Moraceae FAMILY

Ficus annulata

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Ficus annulata is an evergreen tree growing up to 32 metres tall. The bole can be up to 87cm in diameter[ 653 Title Plants of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://www.asianplant.net/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Excellent site with brief information on the plant, its range, habitat and uses, plus phots of specimens, close-ops of flowers and leaves etc, ]. The plant usually begins life as an epiphyte, growing in the branch of another tree; as it grows older it sends down aerial roots which, when they reach the ground quickly form roots and become much thicker and more vigorous. They supply nutrients to the fig, allowing it to grow faster than the host tree. The aerial roots gradually encircle the host tree, preventing its main trunk from expanding, whilst at the same time the foliage smothers the foliage of the host. Eventually the host dies, leaving the fig to carry on growing without competition. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of rubber. It has been cultivated in Australia, Myanmar and Malacca for its very valuable rubber[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

HabitatMontane forests at elevations from 500 - 1,300 metres in China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. A mid-canopy tree in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 600 metres. Usually on alluvial sites near rivers and streams, but also on hillsides and ridges[ 653 Title Plants of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://www.asianplant.net/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Excellent site with brief information on the plant, its range, habitat and uses, plus phots of specimens, close-ops of flowers and leaves etc, ].