Willow leaf fig
Ficus neriifolia

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree. It grows 15 m high. It has smooth greyish brown bark. The young branches are green. The leaves are alternate. They are 13-15 cm long by 3-6.5 cm wide. Leaves are oval or sword shaped. They taper to a long tip. There are 3 main veins and 8-12 pairs of side veins. The fruit are figs which are round but flattened. They are 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

It grows in cool tropical places. Plants are grown in Nepal between 500-2200 m altitude. They grow in open places. In China it grows in broadleaf evergreen forests between 1500-2400 m altitude in S China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet

How it is used for food

Ripe figs are eaten. The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bao ye sen lin rong, Dadul, Dieng-surme-blang, Dudhe, Dudhilo, Dudilo, Khilk, Nyeu-kung, Parphuta, Toitpay

Synonyms

Ficus densa Miq.; Ficus diadena Steud.; Ficus fieldingii Miq.; Ficus gemelia Wall. ex Miq.; Ficus nemoralis Wall. ex Miq.; Ficus nemoralis var. fieldingii (Miq.) King; Ficus neriifolia var. nemoralis (Wall. ex Miq.) Corner; Ficus trilepis Miq.; Ficus wardii C. E. C. Fisch.;