Skip to main content

Ficus sycomorus subsp. gnaphalocarpa

(Miq.) C. C. Berg.

gbif· cc-by-nc

Luke Smith

gbif· cc-by-nc

Luke Smith

gbif· cc-by-nc

Luke Smith

Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry (because the leaves resemble those of the mulberry), sycamore, or sycomore, is a fig species that has been cultivated since ancient times.

Description

A tropical fig tree found in the Sahel region where it grows in arid woodland areas. The leaves and fruit are both edible.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or cooked in soups. The leaves are also eaten.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or cooked in soups.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places. It grows in woodland.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

The pollinator wasp is Ceratosolen arabicus.

Notes

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

Nutrition

PartMoisturekJkcalProteinVit AVit CIronZinc
Fruit78.5322771.66
Leaves raw80.5238576.115.8

Synonyms

Ficus gnaphalocarpa (Miq.) A. Rich.Sycamorus gnaphalocarpa Miq.Now Ficus sycomorus

Also Known As

Akpan, Cheque, Cua, Cungre, Danba, Dawitchi, Gang, Kankanga, Kinkanan, N'cungre, Ndune, Okankan, Soto, Tcheque, Tomiri, Uncuiho, Uncungre

References (18)

  • Atato, A., et al, 2010, Diversity of Edible Wild Fruit Tree Species of Togo. Global Science Books. (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Ayesson, N. C., 2011, Nutritional Contribution of Some Senegalese Forest Fruits Running across Soudano-Sahelian Zone. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2011, 2, 606-612 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Batawila, K., et al, 2007, Diversite et gestion des legumes de cueillete au Togo. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 7( 3& 4): 66 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Belem, B., et al, 2007, Use of Non Wood Forest Products by local people bordering the “Parc National Kaboré Tambi”, Burkina Faso. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies vol. 6, no. 1 p 9
  • Bojang, L., 1999, Non-wood Forest Products in The Gambia. EC-FAO Partnership Programme. (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
Show all 18 references
  • Diouf, M., et al, Leafy Vegetables in Senegal. Bioversity webite (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Food Composition Tables for use in Africa FAO http://www.fao.org/infoods/directory No. 636, 919 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Gallagher, D. E., 2010, Farming beyond the escarpment: Society, Environment, and Mobility in Precolonial Southeastern Burkina Faso. PhD University of Michigan.
  • Gueye, M. & Meissa, D., 2007, Traditional Leafy Vegetables in Senegal: Diversity and medicinal Uses. Afr. J. Trad. CAM (2007) 4 (4): 469 – 475
  • Gueye, M., et al, 2014, Wild Fruits Traditionally Gathered by the Malinke Ethnic Group in the Edge of Niokolo Koba Park (Senegal). American Journal of Plant Sciences 5, 1306-1317
  • Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 78, 137 (As Ficus gnaphacocarpa)
  • Kidane, B., et al, 2014, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Fruit Species used by Maale and Ari Ethnic Communities in South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. Vol. 12, 1546-3465-12-455
  • Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 206 (As Ficus gnaphacocarpa)
  • Maydell, H. von, 1990 Trees and shrubs of the Sahel: their characteristics and uses. Margraf. p 273 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • RILEY & BROKENSHA, (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Tent. fl. abyss. 2:270. 1850 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 46 (As Ficus gnaphalocarpa)
  • www.figweb.org

More from Moraceae