Smooth fig
Ficus glabella
Family: Moraceae
What it is like
A fig. It is a large tree. It start attached to and growing on other plants but later becomes an independent tree. It can be 57 m tall. The trunk is very thick and up to 4.5 m across. It has aerial roots. The small branches hang down. The leaves are alternate and are thin and rough. The are broadly oval and wedge shaped at the base. They taper to a short tip. They are shiny green and 5-10 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The fruit are figs in the axils of fallen leaves. These do not have stalks. They are round with flattened tips. They are dark bluish purple when ripe. They can have yellow blotches. They are 50-75 mm across.
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 from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level. It grows in forests and open places. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The young shoots are eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ampulu, Ara nasi, Bulu bras, Bulu jeraka, Bulu tambi, Bunut, Ipe, Iprih, Nyaung-pan, Nyaung-thabye, Phutalgo tussa, Phutkal sag, Wunut, Wunut banju