Ficus fistulosa aka Figs

Ficus fistulosa is an evergreen tree. It belongs to the Moraceae family. Its native range runs from Assam to Taiwan and Malesia. It also reaches eastern New Guinea. It grows in the wet tropics of Asia. Wild trees grow beneath the main forest canopy. They live in mixed dipterocarp forests and forests near mountains. They grow on slopes and ridges, not just flat ground.

The listed height is about 39 feet [12 metres]. Some trees reach 66 feet [20 metres], though most stay smaller. The trunk can reach about 0.7 feet [0.21 metres] across. Its twigs often have hollow centres. The tree keeps its leaves throughout the year. The accounts give no more leaf shape details for this species. They do not describe its bark. These gaps make it harder to name the tree from leaves or bark alone.

Fruits grow along the trunk, not just among leafy shoots. The flowers form inside the young fruit structure. Wasps carry pollen to them. The species is dioecious: male and female flowers grow on separate trees. It cannot fertilise itself. Useful Tropical Plants says fruit and seed need both sexes. The source lists seed as a way to grow new trees. The evidence gives no months for bloom or fruit. It gives no details on fruit taste or food use.

Wild trees grow in soils from sand to clay. Their forest range reaches about 5,577 feet [1,700 metres] above sea level. This shows that wild trees grow in a broad soil range. It does not show which garden soil they prefer. Nor does it show how often to water them. The sources give no tested frost limit or hardiness zone. They give no account of pests or diseases for this species. They do not state its garden light needs or full-grown crown width.

People gather this tree from the wild for several local uses. They eat young leaves raw as salad greens. The source lists no known hazards but does not assess pet safety. Records of folk remedies describe boiling the root to help cause sweating. Other records note use after childbirth. People have also smoked mature leaves with opium. These records of use do not prove that the tree has health benefits. The wood is low grade but serves for indoor work. People also use it for crates, short-term structures, floats and fuel.