Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree, Shrub |
| Maximum Height | 12 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern China, Myanmar, Indochina, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a latex-containing shrub or tree up to 12 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have papery to thinly leathery leaf blades that are usually oblong to oval to egg-shaped, and 5–21 by 1–8 cm, with cream-white or yellow dots above. |
| Flowers | The plant is dioecious with each plant bearing male or female flowers. The flowers are tiny and develop within the syconium (fig). |
| Fruit | Its syconia (figs) are in pairs or in clusters, borne at the leaf axils or on the bare portions of twigs behind the leaves, somewhat round, 6–12 mm wide when fresh, and yellow to orange or red when mature. |
| Habitat | It grows in forests, forest edges, streamsides, and secondary forests up to 1,750 m altitude. It occurs locally in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by fig wasps. |
| Etymology | Latin Ficus, the commercial edible fig (Ficus carica); Latin chartaceus, papery, referring to the texture of the leaf blade |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The bark is used to make ropes in the rigging of a ship. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
References
| References | Berg, C. C. & E. J. H. Corner. 2005. Ficus subgenus Ficus. Flora Malesiana, Series I. 17(2): 71–136 Keng, H.. 1990. The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore: Singapore University Press. 222 Kochummen, K. M. & R. Go. 2000. Moraceae. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. 3: 181–334 Ng, A. B. C., A. Ng, B. Lee, A. L. Chuah, S. G. Goh, J. T. K. Lai, G. C. Tan & V. D’Rozario. 2005. A Guide to the Fabulous Figs of Singapore. Singapore: Singapore Science Centre. 152 pp |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33645 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8059 |
| 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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