Ficus capreifolia

The river sandpaper fig (Ficus capreifolia) is a fig shrub or small tree of the western and eastern Afrotropics. It is typically found around pans or flood plains, or along riparian fringes in tropical or subtropical savanna regions, but is absent from the tropical rainforest zone. Despite its regular scrambling habit it may attain a height of 7 to 10 m (23 to 33 ft). The bark is pale and smooth, and the branches are slender. Their rough-textured, pear-shaped, yellowish-green figs are up to 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter and grow on short stalks from the leaf axils. The elongate leaves are rough on both surfaces.

Description

A fig. It is a shrub. It grows up to 4-7 m tall. The bark is pale whitish and smooth. The stems are slender and it has few branches. The branches are often long and whip-like. The leaves are oval and 11 cm long by 4.5 cm wide. They are dark green and have a very rough surface. They resemble sandpaper. The base is narrowly lobed and it tapers to the tip. The edges often have teeth. The fig fruit occur singly and are pear shaped. They are up to 10 cm long. They are grey green and have a rough skin. They are produced on fairly long stalks in the axils of leaves.

Edible Uses

The ripe figs are eaten raw. The leaves, seeds, and fruit can be used as vegetables.

Traditional Uses

The figs are eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaf sap and a decoction of the root are taken for the treatment of schistosomiasis, and the leaf sap or the powdered root is sprinkled on syphilitic ulcers. A dichloromethane extract from the leaf has shown fungicidal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum, due to the presence of the furanocoumarin psoralen. The extract also showed inhibitory activity on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. A methanol extract of the twig has shown radical scavenging activity.

Known Hazards

The latex from the bark is recorded to be urticant (causing a rash).

Distribution

A tropical plant. They grow along watercourses in the Savannah. It grows in swamps. It can form tangled thickets along river banks. It grows between 45-1,600 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 910 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

The pollinating wasp is Kradibia gestroi afrum (Wiebes).

Propagation

Seed - easy. Cuttings root easily.

Other Uses

The bark, stripped off in long lengths, is used for making rope and string. Split twigs are used for plaiting baskets. The rough leaves are used as sandpaper for polishing wooden objects such as sticks, spears, bows, tool handles and earrings. The leaf and the latex from the bark are used for tanning. The wood is soft. Unspecified plant parts are used for construction of house roofs and as fuel.

Notes

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Arabi-safarra, Emunparauta, Inkhiwane, Laweydi, Lugo, Mukaramadzi, Munharauta, Palli, Rimerhi rimabetchehi, Rough-leaved fig, Towsi, Willow wild fig, Wu badonri

References (30)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 47
• Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 2, 20:94. 1843 "capreaefolia"
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew.
• Busson, 1965,

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