Ficus abutilifolia, Rock Wild Fig, Rock-Splitting Fig Tree Seeds, Indigenous Medicinal

Ficus abutilifolia Seeds

Large-leaved Rock Fig, Rock Wild Fig; Grootblaar-rotsvy, Klip-vy

Ficus is a pan-tropical genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. Ficus occupies a wide variety of ecological niches; most are evergreen, but some deciduous species are endemic to areas outside of the tropics and to higher elevations. Fig species are characterized by their unique inflorescence and distinctive pollination syndrome, which utilizes wasp species belonging to the Agaonidae family for pollination. The fruit of most species are edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife. Figs are also of considerable cultural importance throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many practical uses. Ficus abutilifolia commonly known as Large-leaved Rock Fig or Rock Wild Fig in English and Grootblaar-rotsvy or Klip-vy in Afrikaans is a South African indigenous species with a provincial distribution that extends to Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. Ficus abutilifolia is a small to medium-sized, deciduous to semi-deciduous tree up to 15 m high, though it seldom exceeds 5 m. The conspicuous white to yellow roots and stems of the large-leaved rock fig are an impressive sight, well adapted to hugging rock faces and splitting rocks and earning this species a place among the true rock-splitting figs. Medicinally decoctions prepared from the leaves are used in promoting fertility in humans and good crop yields, and the milky latex derived from the plant is used to remove skin warts. In addition, bark decoctions are taken by men as a strengthening tonic. Though it is not much used in horticulture as yet, it shows great potential, and is known to be a good subject for bonsai.