Ficus thonningii

Ficus thonningii is a species of Ficus. It is native to Africa. It is commonly known as Mugumo to the Agikuyu or the Strangler Fig in common English. Recent phylogenetic analysis suggests it may be a species complex. The species has diverse economic and environmental uses across many farming and pastoral communities in Africa. In some dryland areas in Africa for example, it is a very good source of dry season livestock fodder, because it produces highly nutritious foliage in large amounts all year round. Parts of the plant edible for livestock include, leaves, twigs and barks, and their nutritional value varies with season.

Description

A fig. It is a tree which can lose its leaves during the dry season of the year. It is often a strangler fig on oil palm. It grows up to 12-25 m high. It can grow in soil or attached to other plants. It can be a climber. It can have buttresses or have several stems. The crown is dark and rounded and spreading. The bark is smooth and grey. The leafy twigs are 2-8 mm thick. The leaves are arranged in spirals. The leaves vary. They are often oval. The leaves are 3-12 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. There are 7-12 pairs of side veins. The young leaves are pale and hairy underneath. The fig fruit are about 1 cm across. The fruit often occur in pairs in the axils of the leaves. They become purple-red when ripe.

Edible Uses

The figs are eaten raw, especially by children, and are also used for jams, jellies, and alcoholic drinks. The leaves are eaten raw in salads and are commonly consumed in Senegal.

Traditional Uses

The fig fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jams and jellies and for alcoholic drinks. The leaves are eaten raw in salads.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The bark is important in local medicine, and it is used in treating colds, sore throat, dysentery, wounds, constipation, nosebleed and to stimulate lactation. Extracts of the bark are used in baths as a treatment of nervous illnesses, tuberculosis, paralysis and leprosy. The latex is used for wound fever. The milky latex is dropped into the eye to treat cataracts. An infusion of the root and fibre is taken orally to help prevent abortion. The powdered root is taken in porridge to stop nosebleed.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in wet and dry upland forest. It also grows in open grassland, woodland and swamp forest and along rivers. It can be on the edges of mangroves. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with a 700-1800 mm rainfall. It grows in savannah forest often on stony hills in West Africa. It grows between 1,000-2,500 m altitude. It is drought tolerant. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed or from cuttings. The fruit are dried and the seeds removed. As well the fruit can be soaked in cold water for a day then turned inside out to remove the seeds. Cuttings 15 cm long by 1 cm wide are suitable. It can also be grown from large branches 2-3 m long by 10 cm wide.

Propagation

Seed - germinates best at a temperature around 20°c. Air layering. Trees are commonly planted using 20 - 50 cm long cuttings from which most of the leaves have been removed. Rooted cuttings are planted in the nursery and kept moist; but inserting cuttings directly in the field is also feasible. Grows easily from large cuttings that are left in the shade for a few days to dry before planting. River sand should be placed at the bottom of the planting hole, to prevent the bottom of the truncheon from rotting. It grows quickly into a fair-sized tree but is sensitive to cold winds. In the colder regions, young plants must be protected for the first 2-3 years.

Other Uses

Bark cloth is obtained by cutting out a strip or cylinder of bark, which causes the tree to produce a fine, matted covering of red, slender roots over the wound. An excellent cloth. Bark fibre is used for making mats. The twined bark produces a strong rope, which is mostly used for fastening bundles of firewood before they are carried to the homestead for fastening slates onto a roof. A considerable amount of useful latex is produced by the tree. The wood is creamy brown, has a fairly uniform structure, is light (510 kg/cubic m), soft to moderately hard, with a rough texture, tough, strong, easy to work; it finishes smoothly and holds nails firmly. Its durability is low, and it is easily attacked by termites. Branches are used for firewood. Large cuttings can be planted close to each other to form living fences and to help control erosion. The leaf litter helps in the improvement of the nutrient status and water-holding capacity of the soil. The tree has an aggressive root system and should not be planted in a small garden or near buildings, swimming pools or paths.

Production

It is fast growing. Often fruit are infested with insects.

Other Information

The fruit are eaten raw especially by children. The fruit are popular. The leaves are commonly eaten in Senegal.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Belene, Bongo, Bupok, Cediya, Chaqerta, Chibeha, Dambi, Di kikilik, Doobaali, Doubaley, Dubalae, Dubale, Ebule, Gerina, Gewone wildevy, Gulgosi, Ibule, I-mara, Kachele, Kanyanguni, Ka pva, Kwonkwia, Lauro, Lodo, Looro, Loro, Mbelen, Mkuu, Mokumo, Moumo, Mugumo, Ndibale, Ndan, Ndubali, Nsanda, Ol-endeti, Ordenai, Oretiti, Pwoo, Shawri-wabi, Tinaita, Uncuine, Wuurdonaa, Yasin

References (58)

• 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 (As Ficus iteophylla)
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Anywar, G., et al, 2014, Wild Plants Used as Nutraceuticals from Nebbi District, Uganda. European Journal of medicinal Plants. 4(6):641-660

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