Ficus religiosa L.

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Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
University of Zimbabwe grounds

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Park Lane alongside Monomatapa carpark

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Park Lane alongside Monomatapa carpark

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Park Lane alongside Monomatapa carpark

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Pegasus House, Samora Machel Avenue

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Harare Gardens

Ficus religiosa

Photo: Mark Hyde
Park Lane, Harare

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Bo (English) Bo tree (English) Bodhi (English) Peepul (English) Sacred fig (English) Tree of Enlightenment (English)
Frequency:
Status: Cultivated and rarely becoming naturalised
Description:
Large tree to 30 m. Leaves drooping: petiole 5-11 cm long, glabrous; lamina broadly ovate, 6-15 cm (excluding the acumen) × 5.5-14 cm, glossy dark green above, paler and duller green beneath; apex drawn out into an exceptionally long (3-8 cm) drip-tip or acumen. Fruit round or strongly dorsiventrally flattened, 7 mm long × 10-14 mm wide, sessile, glabrous, red or purple when ripe. Basal bracts in threes.
Notes: Occasionally planted and escaping from time to time in Harare.
Derivation of specific name: religiosa: of religious significance
Habitat: In cracks in pavements and at the edge of roads.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Its native distribution is from India to Southern China, Vietnam and northern Thailand but it is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics.
Zimbabwe distribution: C
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species: Platyscapa quadriceps (Pollinated by this insect)
Glyphodes negatalis (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 2 July 2016
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2003). Figs of Southern and South-Central Africa Umdaus Press, South Africa Pages 272 - 274. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Ficus religiosa:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: cultivated Ficus religiosa
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Ficus religiosa
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Ficus religiosa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ficus religiosa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ficus religiosa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ficus religiosa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ficus religiosa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ficus religiosa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ficus religiosa
JSTOR Plant Science: Ficus religiosa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ficus religiosa
Plants of the World Online: Ficus religiosa
Tropicos: Ficus religiosa
Wikipedia: Ficus religiosa


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Ficus religiosa.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=167380, retrieved 29 March 2024

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