Variegated Fig
Ficus variegata
Family: Moraceae
What it is like
A fig. It is a medium sized buttressed tree up to 7-18 m high. The trunk varies in length and can be 20-30 cm across. Trees can be larger. The bark is characteristically brown and smooth. It is thick with an abundance of latex. The young shoots are pale green. The leaves are broad and oval and leathery, shiny and smooth. They are 14-20 cm long and 8-12 cm wide. The base of the leaves is rounded and heart shaped. The leaf stalks are 3 to 8 cm long and brown. The leaf like structures (stipules) at the base of the leaf stalks are 1-1.5 cm long, smooth and pinkish. Swollen structures are found along the larger limbs. Red figs with white spots are produced on the trunk and larger branches. The fruit is round and smooth and turns deep yellow when mature. The fruit are 3-4 cm across. Trees may bear thousands of fruit which are eaten by birds. Named varieties occur based on the colour of the fruit. The fruit are edible.
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. They occur in the Philippines in lower forested regions from Luzon to the provinces of Mindanao. In Australia they are in the tropical rainforests and in coastal districts. Trees demand humidity and light. They are often on well drained soils at the edge of the rainforest. It grows in valleys at low and middle altitudes in S China. In Indonesia trees grow up to 1,500 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andaman Islands, Asia, Australia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Timor
How it is used for food
The freshly cut stems yield drinking water. The fruit are edible but not attractive. Young fruit can be used cooked. The young leaves are eaten cooked. The sap is used as a food additive in palm starch.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, sap
How it is grown
It can probably be grown from seed or by aerial layering. It seeds and grows naturally under the right conditions.
It is a fast growing tree. In the northern hemisphere it flowers in April and May and fruits in July and August.
Its other names
Local names
Ara kelepong, Ara kelumpong, Ayak, Common red-stem fig, Ghundhang, Gondang, Kanjilu, Kara, Kendang, Kelo, Kondang, Ngoa rung, Nyawai, Phuuk, Pohon ara merabiasa, Tandilan, Tangisang-bayauak, Tentabau, Va rung, Za se rong
Synonyms
Covellia racemifera (Roxb.) Miq.; Ficus agusanensis Elmer; Ficus amboinensis Kostel.; Ficus cerifera Blume ex Bleekrode; Ficus ceriflua Jungh.; Ficus chlorocarpa Benth.; Ficus compressitora Elmer; Ficus cordifolia Blume; Ficus ehretioides F.Muell. ex Benth.; Ficus garciae Elmer; Ficus glochidiifolia Hayata; Ficus gummiflua (Miq.) Miq. ex Jungh.; Ficus ilangoides Elmer; Ficus integrifolia Elmer; Ficus konishii Hayata; Ficus laevigata Blanco; Ficus latsoni Elmer; Ficus paucinervia Merr.; Ficus polysyce Ridl.; Ficus racemifera Roxb.; Ficus subopaca Miq.; Ficus subracemosa Blume; Ficus sum Gagnep.; Ficus sycomoroides Miq.; Ficus tenimbrensis S. Moore; Ficus variegata var. chlorocarpa (Benth.) King; Ficus variegata var. garciae (Elmer) Corner; Ficus variegata var. ilangoides (Elmer) Corner; Ficus variegata var. paucinervia (Merr.) Sata; Ficus variegata var. pilosior Miq.; Ficus variegata var. rotundata Sata; Ficus variegata var. sycomoroides (Miq.) Corner; Ficus viridicarpa Corner; Sycomorus capensis forma tropica Miq.; Sycomorus gummiflua Miq.; Urostigma javanicum Miq.;