Moraceae FAMILY

Ficus pungens

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

In some reports the latex is reported to be very poisonous[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Botanical Description

Ficus pungens is usually a small to medium-sized tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole sometimes has short stilt roots[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The stalks have very sharp thorns, though these can fall off[ 658 Title Food Plants of Papua New Guinea Publication Author French. B.R. Publisher Author. Year 2006 ISBN Description Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre. A fairly common vegetable within its native range, it is occasionally cultivated as a food crop[ 658 Title Food Plants of Papua New Guinea Publication Author French. B.R. Publisher Author. Year 2006 ISBN Description Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheast Asia - Indonesia, Philippines to New Guinea, New Britain.

HabitatLocally common in primary and secondary lowland forest, at elevations up to 1,700 metres[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. Normally found near streams and drains[ 658 Title Food Plants of Papua New Guinea Publication Author French. B.R. Publisher Author. Year 2006 ISBN Description Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants. ].