Ficus palmata
Forssk.
Moraceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Wild Fig
Lower part of the plant. There are a few ripening fruits if you look carefully
Photograph by: Liné1
GNU Free Documentation License
Lower part of the plant. There are a few ripening fruits if you look carefully
Photograph by: Liné1
GNU Free Documentation License
Leaf
Photograph by: Liné1
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
General Information
Ficus palmata is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 9.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
The sap and the half-ripe fruits are said to be poisonous.
Botanical References
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
Range
E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat
Occasionally found in forests, more commonly around villages, in waste ground, fields etc[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
]. Open places, generally along the banks of streams at elevations of 600 - 2700 metres in Nepal[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating |   |
Medicinal Rating |  |
Habit | Deciduous Tree |
Height | 9.00 m |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a well-drained medium to light loam and some lime rubble incorporated into the soil. A heavy wet soil tends to encourage excessive plant growth at the expense of fruit.
Not very hardy in Britain it is best on a south or south-west facing wall in order to provide winter protection and more heat in the summer for ripening the fruit. It would probably succeed in a sheltered position in the open in the milder areas of Britain. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
This species is closely related to the common fig, Ficus carica, and is not perhaps specifically distinct. It has been recommended for growing in areas where the climate is too wet for common figs since it fruits during the monsoon season in the Himalayas. However, it probably requires the fig-wasp in order to pollinate the flowers and so is unlikely to fruit in areas such as Britain that are too cold for the fig-wasp to survive.
The fruits are often sold in local markets in the Himalayas[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
]. There is a potential for commercial cultivation[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. Sweet and succulent[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. A very tasty fruit[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
], it is often dried for later use. The fruit is about 2.5cm in diameter and annual yields from wild trees is about 25kg[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
]. The fruit contains about 6% sugars, 1.7% protein, 0.9% ash and 0.2% pectin[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
]. Low in vitamin C, about 3.3mg per 100g[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
].
The unripe fruits and young growth are cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. They are boiled, the water is removed by squeezing and they are then fried. a nice green vegetable[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.
Medicinal
The fruit is demulcent, emollient, laxative and poultice[
194- Title
- Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K.
- Publisher
- Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
,
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used as a part of the diet in the treatment of constipation and diseases of the lungs and bladder[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The sap is used in the treatment of warts.
The latex of the plant is used to take out spines lodged deeply in the flesh[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
Other Uses
The pliable wood is of little value but has been used for making hoops, garlands, ornaments etc.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and overwinter the young plants in a greenhouse for at least their first year. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts and give some protection for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of mature wood 10 - 12cm with a heel, winter in a frame. Fairly easy, but the cuttings must be kept frost free. It is probably best if the cuttings are put in individual pots[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Layering.
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