This species is close to Ficus sycomorus, and is included in that species by some authorities. However, we have kept it distinct here, mainly because it has a larger, edible fruit that the species F. Sycomorus[].

Common Name:

General Information

Ficus sakalavarum is a tree growing up to 15 metres tall.
The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible fruits, which are used locally. It also, potentially, has a wide range of other uses ad detailed below.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - Madagascar.

Habitat

Alluvial plains and valleys, usually close to permanent water[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wasps
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical to subtropical latitudes, it is found at elevations from near sea level to about 1,000 metres.
Prefers a deep, well-drained loam to clay soil rich in nutrients[]. Sandy soils with a shallow groundwater level may also be suitable[]. The best site for trees is next to drainage lines, streams, rivers, springs or dams[].
Fig trees have a unique form of fertilization, each species relying on a single, highly specialized species of wasp that is itself totaly dependant upon that fig species in order to breed. The trees produce three types of flower; male, a long-styled female and a short-styled female flower, often called the gall flower. All three types of flower are contained within the structure we usually think of as the fruit.
The female fig wasp enters a fig and lays its eggs on the short styled female flowers while pollinating the long styled female flowers. Wingless male fig wasps emerge first, inseminate the emerging females and then bore exit tunnels out of the fig for the winged females. Females emerge, collect pollen from the male flowers and fly off in search of figs whose female flowers are receptive. In order to support a population of its pollinator, individuals of a Ficus spp. must flower asynchronously. A population must exceed a critical minimum size to ensure that at any time of the year at least some plants have overlap of emmission and reception of fig wasps. Without this temporal overlap the short-lived pollinator wasps will go locally extinct[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A sweetish flavour, resembling the common fig (Ficus carica)[]. The pear-shaped or roundish fruit is yellow to red when fully ripe and about 8cm long[].

The following uses have been recorded for the closely related F. Sycomorus. They are almost certainly applicable for this species[].

The leaves are used in soups and groundnut dishes[].

The bark is chewed together with kola nut[].

The wood ash is commonly used as a salt substitute[].

The latex in the sap is used to coagulate milk[].

Medicinal

The following uses have been recorded for the closely related F. Sycomorus. They are almost certainly applicable for this species[].

The bark is used for the treatment of scrofula, coughs, and throat and chest diseases[].

The milky latex is used for treatment of dysentery and chest diseases, or is applied to inflamed areas[].
Ringworm is treated with the bark and milky latex[].

The leaves are said to be effective against jaundice and as an antidote for snakebite[].

The roots have laxative and anthelmintic properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The following uses have been recorded for the closely related F. Sycomorus. They are almost certainly applicable for this species[].

Grown as a shade tree in coffee plantations[].
Wild fig can be used for sand-dune fixation and riverbank stabilization[].
Shed leaves form a valuable litter improving the nutrient status, infiltration rate and water-holding capacity of the soil.
Usually intercropped with bananas as an understorey[].

Other Uses

The following uses have been recorded for the closely related F. Sycomorus. They are almost certainly applicable for this species[].

The inner part of the root is used as weaving fibre, and a strong rope can be made from the inner bark[].

The wood is creamy brown, has a fairly uniform structure, is very light (air-dry 510 kg/m³), soft to moderately hard, tough, strong, easy to work, finishes smoothly and holds nails firmly. It is not very durable and is easily attacked by termites[]. Mainly used for making mortars and pestles, drums, stools, doors, beehives, dugout canoes, carvings and for house building[].
The wood can be used as firewood and for making charcoal[]. Various peoples throughout Africa use a piece of dry wood from this tree as the base block when starting a fire by the friction method[].

Propagation

Seed - viable seed is difficult to obtain[]. It germinates best at a temperature around 20°c[].
Branches with a diameter of 50-150 mm can be used as large cuttings planted direct into the soil[]. To avoid rotting of the tips, they must be left in the shade for a few days to dry before planting[]. Most of the leaves should be removed before planting in 1 metre deep holes with some sand at the bottom. This prevents rotting of the cuttings and stimulates root formation[].
Smaller cuttings can also be made from either the mature wood or from wood of the current season's growth[]. They are first planted in the nursery to induce rooting and then planted out in the field[].

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