Swazi fig, Bubu fig
Ficus bubu
Family: Moraceae
What it is like
A fig tree. It grows 30 m high. The trunk is straight. The roots often grow over rocks. It can grow attached to other plants. The bark is smooth and greenish-yellow. The leaf stalk is 4-11 cm long. The leaves are 12-30 cm long by 6-23 cm wide. The figs are borne in pairs on lumps on the trunk. They are 3-4 cm across.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry lowland forest. It also grows on rocky stream banks. In Malawi it grows from 50-1,300 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
The pollinating wasp is Courtella michaloudi (Wiebes). Plants can be grown from large cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Sulphur-barked fig, Ubtfombi