Ficus elastica
India-rubber tree
Ficus elastica, commonly known as the Rubber Plant, is a versatile evergreen celebrated for its glossy, dark green foliage. Beyond its popularity as a robust indoor ornamental, it holds traditional medicinal significance. In various cultures, its latex and extracts are utilized for their unique antimicrobial and therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Ficus elastica
- Family: Moraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Rosales and situated in the family Moraceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Ficus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Moraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ficus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ficus elastica, is referred to by several common names across different regions and linguistic variations. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), Chinese as used in Hong Kong (zh-hk), Chinese as used in mainland China (zh-cn), and Chinese as used in Singapore (zh-sg), it is commonly known as 印度榕.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 印度榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 印度榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 印度榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 印度榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 印度榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 印度橡膠樹 | Wikidata |
| pt | Árvore-da-borracha | Wikidata |
| pl | Figowiec sprężysty | Wikidata |
| ru | фикус каучуконосный | Wikidata |
| tr | Kauçuk ağacı | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several continents. In Europe, it can be found in Spain within the southwestern region and in Sicilia throughout the southeast. Its reach extends into West Tropical Africa, where it is specifically located in Gambia. Furthermore, it inhabits the West-Central Tropical Africa region, particularly in Cameroon. Finally, the species is also distributed across the Gulf of Guinea Islands in West-Central Tropical Africa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the rubber plant, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The root bark is often employed for its specific therapeutic properties in folk remedies, while the milky, white latex that exudes from the stems and leaves is frequently used for its topical or internal applications depending on the culture. Additionally, the dried leaves are prepared and used in decoctions or infusions to address various ailments, showcasing the versatility of the different anatomical parts of Ficus elastica.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| latex | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ficus elastica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ficus elastica has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Buruli ulcer, Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma mansoni, adjuvant arthritis.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Buruli ulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Schistosoma mansoni | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| adjuvant arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| menorrhagia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| toothache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |