Moraceae FAMILY

Ficus lapathifolia

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Ficus lapathifolia is a medium-sized or large evergreen tree. It often starts life as an epiphyte in the branch of a tree and can eventually send down aerial roots that, once they reach the ground, provide extra nutrients that help the plant grow more vigorously. These aerial roots can completely encircle the trunk of the host tree, constricting its growth - this, coupled with the more vigorous top growth, can lead to the fig outcompeting and killing the tree in which it is growing[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeC. America to Northern America - southern Mexico.

HabitatMoist thickets or forest, often on open hillsides or along streams, ascending from sea level to about 1,200 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].