Small-leaved fig, Polynesian banyan
Ficus obliqua

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A strangling fig tree which can grow 15 to 30 m high. It can spread 15-30 m wide. When grown in the open it has a rounded spreading crown. The trunk has buttresses. The bark is grey-brown. The leaves are dark green and dense. They are paler underneath. The leaves are simple and 6-10 cm long by 2-3.5 cm wide. The mature leaves are smooth. The fruit are 6-10 mm across. They occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are edible. Some varieties occur.

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in subtropical and warm temperate locations. They grow naturally in rainforest in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It can grow in conditions of low light. In Samoa it grows from 30-1080 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Niue, Pacific, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or aerial layers. The seed are removed from the fig and mixed with sand before sowing as they are very small. Take the seed from ripe orange-red fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Aoa, Baka

Synonyms

Ficus aphanoneura Warb.; Ficus backhousei (Miq.) Miq.; Ficus boothiana Miq.; Ficus elegans Miq.; Ficus eugenioides (Miq.) F. Muell. ex Miq.; Ficus graeffei Warb.; Ficus sororia Kunth & C. D. Bouche; Ficus tryoni Bailey; Ficus virginea Banks & Sol. ex Hiern; Urostigma backhousei Miq.; Urostigma eugenioides Miq.; Urostigma obliquum Miq.;