Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Middle East, Western Asia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Temperate, Mediterranean |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Trunk | The bark is smooth, silvery gray. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Fragrant, alternate, thickly papery; stipules 1-1.2cm; petiole 2-5cm; leaf blade broadly ovate, deeply lobed with 3-5 lobes, irregularly toothed on the margins, rough on the upper surface, soft hair on the underside. |
| Flowers | Blooms inside the infructescence, small and inconspicuous. |
| Fruit | The fruit, which is called anjeer, axillary on normal leafy shoots, solitary, purplish red to yellow when mature, usually pear-shaped and up to 5cm in diameter. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The plant is cultivated for it sweet and succulent fruits in many countries. It can be eaten raw or cook. The fruit is often dried for for later use and this dried fruit is a major item of commerce. Medicinal: A decoction of the leaves is stomachic. The leaves are used as a steam bath for painful or swollen piles. Syrup of figs, made from the fruit, is well known and effective gentle laxative that is also suitable for the young and very old. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting (Hardwood) |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Leathery, Thick |
| Foliar Modification | Stipule |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Margin | Palmately Lobed |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Rough |
| Fruit Classification | Multiple Fruit |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29858 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4167 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
