Short leaf fig
Ficus citrifolia

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a straggling tree. It grows 15 m tall. It can spread over a wide area with aerial roots. The leaves are dark green. They are oval shaped with a rounded base and pointed tip. The flowers are small and enclosed in the open ended fruit. The fruit are on the end of long stalks from the axils of leaves. They are round or oval and 6-12 mm long. The fruit turn yellow to dark red when ripe. The fruit is sweet.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), St. Kitts and Nevis, USA, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They have little taste.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Ateniu, Guapoi, Jaguey blanco

Synonyms

Ficus botryapioides Kunth & Bouche; Ficus brevifolia Nutt.; Ficus laevigata Vahl; Ficus lentiginosa Vahl; Ficus planicostata Kunth & Bouche; Ficus populnea ; Ficus syringifolia C. Fraser ex C. Moore; and others