Genus of woody trees, shrubs, vines, and epiphytes; also known as "fig trees".
Genus Ficus (family Moraceae) contains over 850 species that cover a wide range of tropical ecological niches including trees, shrubs, vines, and epiphytes; but is commonly named after one particular species - the fig tree.
Despite their wide variety, ficus trees often have aerial roots. They have distinctive fruits with an enclosed inflorescence (syconium - an urn-like structure lined on the inside with tiny flowers). These flowers are designed for pollination by tiny highly-specific fig wasps. Fig plants all possess a white to yellow (latex) sap; and twigs leave a circular stipule scar when they fall off.
Figs are considered a major "keystone" species in rainforest ecosystems, that provide fruit, perches, and habitats for other creatures.
A number of ficus are grown for their fruits, but Ficus carica is the primary "fig" in cultivation.
Use this tag for questions about growing the various Ficus plants.
