Stuhlmann's wild fig, Lowveld fig
Ficus stuhlmannii

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a medium sized strangler. It grows up to 10 m tall. It has a dense well formed crown. The bark is pale white to grey. The stem is ribbed and fluted. The leaves are oblong and 9-18 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. They are leathery and dark green. Underneath the veins form a net. Underneath is also velvety. The base of the leaf is square and slightly lobed. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long and thick. The figs are small and often less than 10 mm long but can be 2 cm long. They are oval and often in pairs. They are velvety green with a reddish tinge.

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 the lowlands and highlands. It grows at low altitudes and in mixed forests. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,500 m above sea level. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall between 1,000-1,400 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten as a snack.

The fruit are only occasionally eaten by adults. They are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by cuttings. The pollinator wasp is Alfonsiella binghami Wiebes.

In Tanzania the fruit are collected in June-July.

Its other names

Local names

Kigeni, Mgumo, Mkuyu, Mtamba, Mukunyu, Mulumba, Okilili, Posombino, Tiita

Synonyms

Ficus howardiana Sim;