White Sandpaper Fig, Boombil, Hairy Fig
Ficus hispida

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small bushy tree. It grows 6-8 m high and spreads to 2-5 m across. The branches are hollow. It has strangling roots but not aerial roots. The trunk is short and fairly straight and slender. The bark is grey. The young shoots are red and hairy. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves are 10-35 cm long by 6-12 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 2-9 cm long. The leaves are dark green, thin and rough on both surfaces. The trees are separately male and female. The fig is 3-5 cm across. They are reddish-green and borne in clumps on the trunk and larger branches. The figs split open and are red inside. There are some varieties described based on the colour and size of the figs.

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

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It occurs naturally in monsoonal rainforests. It grows on alluvial soils and on sandstone slopes. In Nepal plants are grown between 500-1100 m altitude. In S China it grows between 1000-1500 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vietnam, West Timor

How it is used for food

The green fig fruit are eaten, cooked. They are used in curries. (They may cause giddiness). They are also used for pickles. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also made into jam. The young leaves are used as a vegetable. They are fried and boiled. The fresh leaves can be stored for 5-6 days after harvest.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root suckers. It can also be grown by cuttings.

In NE Thailand fruit are available May to June.

Its other names

Local names

Adavi atti, Ara bombong, Ara lempong, Ara senigai, Ara sungai, Ashi heibong, Baidimiri, Bhokada, Bhuty umbar, Bisoro, Bodamamidi, Boikwe, Bokria, Brammadi, Buddachettu, Bhui umbar, Bhuty umbar, Daduri, Dagurin, Damur, Dhedaumaro, Dimiri, Dimoru, Dui ye rong, Dumoor, Dumur, Dumur dhaugri, Engthum, Epu, Erumanakku, Gobla, Gular, Hpauwu, Ingthum, Irthot, Jangali aanjir, Jangliangir, Jangli umbar, Jia jhra, Ka-aung, Kadatti, Kadut, Kagsha, Kakadumbra, Kakodumar, Kala umbar, Kalumber, Katgularia, Kathgular, Kathumbar, Kautaik, Kha-aung, Khandao, Kharoti, Khasreti, Khasreto, Khasattya, Khasrey, Khoksha dumru, Khoksa, Koksa, Kothayo, Koth umbo, Kukto belo, Leluwing, Lovie prei, Luwing, Lvea prey, Madue plong, Mai-nawt-hpu, Malayu, Ngai, Nithutong, Ovachidoshi, Pakar, Panidimiri, Peyatta, Peyatti, Pohon ara luwing, Radoshi, Rough leafed fig, Sakhap, Seniah, Senil, Sonatti, Swamp fig, Takpi, Thei-thawt, Thiwek, Thote, Thotne, Tote, Totmila, Umbo

Synonyms

Covellia assamica Miq.; Covellia courtallensis Miq.; Covellia daemonum (J. Koenig ex Vahl) Miq.; Covellia dasycarpa Miq.; Covellia hispida (L.) Miq.; Covellia oppositifolia (Roxb.) Gasp.; Covellia setulosa Miq., Covellia wightiana Miq., Ficus auriculata Trimen, not Loureiro; Ficus courtallensis (Miq.) Baill.; Ficus daemonum J. Koenig ex Vahl; Ficus fecunda Blume; Ficus goolereea Roxb.; Ficus hispida forma borneensis Miq.; Ficus hispida var. incana Kuntze; Ficus hispida var. obovifolia Hochr.; Ficus hispida var. viridis Kuntze; Ficus hispidioides S. Moore; Ficus letacqui H. Lev. & Vaniot; Ficus mollis Willd.; Ficus oppositifolia Roxb.; Ficus perinteregam Pennant; Ficus poilanei Gagnep.; Ficus prominens Wall. ex Miq.; Ficus sambucixylon H. Lev. & Vaniot; Ficus setistyla Warb.; Ficus symphytifolia Lam.; Ficus scabra Jacq.; Gonusuke daemonum (J. Koenig ex Vahl) Raf.; Gonusuke hispida (L.) Raf.; Gonusuke scabra (Jacq.) Raf.; Perin-teregam Rheede; Sycomorphe roxburghii Miq.;