Swamp fig, Hippo fig
Ficus trichopoda

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree. It grows up to 15 m tall. The stem often lies over above water or damp ground. It has many prop roots. The bark is smooth and green to brown. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves are entire and heart shaped. They are large. They are 8-30 cm long by 12-23 cm wide. There are 7-11 veins on either side of the midrib. The veins are whitish above above and red below. The leaf stalk is 4.5 cm long. The figs are in the axils of leaves near the ends of branches. They are 1-2 cm across. They are bright red when ripe.

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 swamp forest and in swampy areas. It grows from sea level to 1,200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The pollinating wasp is Elisabethiella bergi.

A fig weighs about 4 g.

Its other names

Local names

Batoui, Catopa, Gangro, Moerasvy, Mulemba, Umvubu

Synonyms

Ficus buddensis Hutch.; Ficus congensis Engl.; Ficus flavovenia Warb.; Ficus hippopotami Gerstner; Ficus zuvalensis Sim;