common fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cultivated fig
• edible fig
• garden fig
• Fig
• common fig
• fig tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Ficus carica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Rosales. Finally, it is a member of the family Moraceae and is situated within the genus Ficus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted in Denmark and Great Britain. It can also be found growing within the landscapes of Ireland and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is established in Middle Europe. Specifically, its distribution extends to the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ficus carica is characterized by a broad environmental tolerance, allowing it to inhabit diverse landscapes ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 2800 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to various topographical settings, typically finding its niche within forest ecosystems, mountainous regions, and stony places. By thriving in both sheltered woodland environments and more exposed, rocky terrains, the plant effectively utilizes a wide range of vertical gradients and substrates within its natural distribution.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Ficus carica is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, a trait reflected in both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific growth habit. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which plays a critical role in its survival strategy and resource management throughout its developmental stages.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus carica is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. As a terrestrial species, it is an independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in height, with minimum measurements recorded at 1 m, a mean height of approximately 6.25 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

6.25 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus carica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology and is classified as a non-carnivorous species, relying on traditional soil-based nutrient uptake rather than nitrogen fixation, as it is not a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf architecture is defined by an alternate arrangement, with leaves that possess a distinct lobed form. The dimensions of the foliage vary, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a mean of 15 cm, reaching a maximum of 25 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between a minimum of 10 cm and a maximum of 28 cm, maintaining a mean width of 15 cm. These morphological traits contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 120.9 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's structural efficiency in managing light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

28 cm

Leaf width mean:

15 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

120.9 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus carica is primarily a sexual process characterized by bisexual reproductive structures, though asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering cycle typically begins in April and concludes in May, following a variable seasonal pattern. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Because self-fertilization is absent, the plant depends on these insect vectors to ensure successful fertilization. The resulting fruit is a fleshy, indehiscent drupe, which typically presents with a brown color. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 5.175 cm (ranging from 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm) and a mean width of 3.06 cm. Within each fruit, there is a high density of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 per fruit. These seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 6e-04 g and a mean volume of approximately 0.813 mm³ (ranging from a minimum of 0.8 mm³ to a maximum of 0.83 mm³). The dispersal of the plant is managed through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochorous, where the fleshy fruit is consumed by animals, allowing the seeds to be dispersed through their digestive tracts.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length mean:

5.175 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

3.06 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

6e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.83 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.813333333333333 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.8 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ficus carica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
4. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica

Fruit

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. International journal of reproductive biomedicine

Chemicals

Ficus carica has 279 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Coumarins, Psoralen, RUTIN, Bergapten.

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Food & nutrition research

Coumarins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Food & nutrition research
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Psoralen

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. Food & nutrition research
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Bergapten

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Umbelliferone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica
3. Pharmaceutical biology

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & nutrition research
3. Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

4',5'-Dihydropsoralen

1. Dr. Duke
2. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica

Anthocyanins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food & nutrition research

Activities

Ficus carica has 811 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Anticancer, Hypolipidemic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of plant physiology
3. Bioscience reports
4. Scientific reports
5. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Food & nutrition research
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Pharmaceutical biology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Food & nutrition research

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Antimicrobial

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiplatelet

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Conditions

Ficus carica has 40 reported investigations on conditions identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, COVID-19, oxidative stress.

Cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Journal of natural products

Diabetes mellitus

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Food & nutrition research
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Inflammation

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
2. PloS one
3. Food & nutrition research

Covid-19

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Medical gas research

Oxidative stress

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Alzheimer's disease

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

1. Bioscience reports

Glioblastoma multiforme

1. Cellular and molecular neurobiology

Hyperglycemia

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Acne vulgaris

1. Journal of cosmetic dermatology

Preparations

Ficus carica has 22 reported preparations identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include latex, 3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, Ethanolic Ficus carica leaf extract, Ficus carica extracts, Ficus carica leaf extract.

Latex

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Cellular and molecular neurobiology

3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid

1. Journal of medicinal chemistry

Ethanolic ficus carica leaf extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ficus carica extracts

1. Scientific reports

Ficus carica leaf extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ficus carica polysaccharides (fcps)

1. Fish & shellfish immunology

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous-ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Coumarinic extract

1. Il Farmaco; edizione scientifica

Ethanol extract

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR