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Ficus vasculosa Wall. ex Miq.
| Family Name: | Moraceae |
| Common Name: | White Fig, Ara Nasi, Pulut-Pulut, Sepedih, Tampang Burung, 白肉榕 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South Asia, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an evergreen tree up to 20 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have thinly leathery leaf blades that are usually oval with short rounded tips, 3–20 by 1.5–7.6 cm,, and have distinct light-coloured mid-veins. Its young leaves may have leaf blades that are lobed at the apices. |
| Flowers | The plant is monoecious. Its male, female and gall flowers are found within the same syconium (fig). The flowers are tiny and develop within the syconium (fig). |
| Fruit | Its stalked syconia (figs) are pear-shaped, apricot-yellow to deep rose-red when ripe, 7–17 mm wide, and develop singly or in pairs on the bare portions of leafy twigs. |
| Habitat | It grows in gardens, hedges, and secondary forests up to 1,300 m altitude. It occurs locally in Bukit Kallang, along Cluny Road, along Nassim Road, along Napier Road, Pulau Ubin, and along Hendon Road. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by the fig wasp Dolichoris vasculosae. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Ficus, the commercial edible fig (Ficus carica); Latin vasculosa, little vessel, possibly referring to the synconia (figs) of this species which resemble tiny vessels |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree: There is currently one individual of Ficus vasculosa listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at Sentosa. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It may be suitable for parks and roadsides. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Modification | Stipule |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Aggregate Fruit (Syncarp) |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Accessory / False Fruit (Pseudocarp) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29886 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4195 |
| 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. |
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