Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Weeping / Pendulous, Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 35 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From India to Solomon Islands (including Singapore) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest, Coastal Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a latex-containing, strangling fig up to 35 m tall. It has a vast and spreading crown, and many aerial roots developing on the trunk or from the base of the lower limbs. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have thinly leathery leaf blades that are usually oval to slightly drop-shaped, 4–20 by 1.9–9 cm, and with distinct side veins below. |
| 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 short-stalked syconia (figs) are round, 7–12 mm wide, purple with dark spots when ripe, and develop singly or in pairs on the bare portions of leafy twigs, or in clusters of up to 4 figs on leafless older branchlets. |
| Habitat | It grows in coastal, monsoon, savannah and secondary forests, and on cliffs and roadside trees. It occurs locally at Cluny Road, off Orchard Road, Pulau Ubin (Chek Jawa), and Tanglin Road. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by the fig wasps, Blastophaga constabularis, Blastophaga coronata and Blastophaga glabellae. Its fruits are eaten by birds, gibbons, siamangs, and squirrels. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed or stem cuttings. |
| Etymology | Latin Ficus, the commercial edible fig (Ficus carica); Latin virens, green, referring to the bright green foliage of the plant |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|
References
| References | Berg, C. C. & E. J. H. Corner. 2005. Ficus subgenus Ficus. Flora Malesiana, Series I. 17(2): 71–136 |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29887 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4196 |
| 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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