Common Name: Sacred Fig

General Information

Sacred fig is an evergreen tree with a wide-spreading crown; it can grow 15 - 30 metres tall. In older trees the bole can become buttressed and as much as 270cm in diameter[, , ]. The tree often starts life as an epiphyte in the branch of a 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 harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is cultivated in the tropical regions of the world, mainly as ornamental tree with various uses[]. This is the species under which the Buddha sat when he achieved Realisation. As such it is a holy tree for Buddhists and has been introduced into several other predominately Buddhist countries, such as Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and S China, from its original home of India[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Bangladesh; India; Nepal; Pakistan, Myanmar.

Habitat

Submontane forest[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in tropical and subtropical areas at elevations up to 1,520 metres[, ]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperatures are within the range 16 - 35°c, and the mean annual rainfall is in the range 500 - 5,000mm[].
Prefers a position in full sun[], but also succeeds in partial shade[]. Succeeds in a good, moist but well-drained soil[, ]. It grows on a wide variety of soils but prefer deep, alluvial sandy loam with good drainage. It is also found on shallow soils including rock crevices[].
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

Fruits[]. Edible though not tasty[]. The small figs are used mainly as a famine food, eaten when nothing better is available[, ].

Leaf buds[]. Edible though not tasty[]. Eaten in times of scarcity[].

Medicinal

The leaves and twigs are alterative, antidote, aphrodisiac, astringent, antigonorrhoeal and laxative[]. It is used as an antidote against bites of venomous animals, and for the treatment of haemoptysis and fistula[].

Fresh sap from the leaves is used to cure diarrhoea, cholera and for wound healing[].

An infusion of the bark is drunk as an antidiabetic[].
A decoction of the bark is used as skin wash to treat scabies, ulcers and skin diseases[].

The aerial roots are diuretic[]. They are used in the treatment of ascites and are chewed by women to promote fertility[].

The fruit is laxative[].

Other Uses

The bark contains tannins and is used as a dye for cloth[, ].

A latex obtained from the plant is used for making varnishes[].
A gum (is this the latex?[]) obtained from the tree is used as a sealing wax[]. It is used by artificers for filling up the cavities of ornaments[].

The fibrous bark is used to make paper[].

The greyish-white wood is very light in weight and very soft[]. It is moderately durable under cover and quite durable under water[]. The low-quality wood may be used for packing cases and matches[].
The wood is used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - germinates best at a temperature around 20°c[].
Air layering[].
Tip cuttings around 4 - 12cm long, taken from lateral branches[].

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