Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Ficus elastica Roxb. Ex Hornem.
Family : MORACEAE
Genus : Ficus
Catalan common name : Ficus. Ficus de cautxú.
Spanish common name : Árbol de caucho. Gomero. Higuera elástica.
General distribution : Asia
Life-forms : Macrophanerophyte.
Habitat : Gardens.
Observations : It is not usual to see it with fruit.
Origen : Índia, Malàisia
Location on-campus UIB : Puntual en front de l'edifici Guiem Colom Casanovas, lateral de l'edifici Mateu Orfila, etc.
Description : An evergreen tree; 6-10m high with a short, thick trunk which is at times very branched from a very small height, with smooth, grey bark. It has a wide crown and the external branches are slightly hanging. The alternate leaves have a petiole reaching up to 5 cm in length. The leaves measure 12-30 cm long and are eliptical, coriaceous, shiny bright green on the upper side and paler on the lower side, although there are other varieties with other shades. The venation is very fine and the margin is smooth. Before opening, the leaves are wrapped in a long, reddish or pinkish stipule. The sessile fruits are spherical, 1 cm or more in diameter, with a smooth, greenish, pitted surface.
