Japanese fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fairy Fig
• Japanese fig
• itabi

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ficus beecheyana f. koshunensis
• Ficus erecta var. sieboldii
• Ficus maruyamensis
• Ficus japonica
• Ficus erecta var. yamadorii
• Ficus koshunensis
• Ficus sieboldii
• Ficus pseudopyriformis
• Ficus taquetii
• Ficus tenax
• Ficus erecta var. beecheyana
• Ficus erecta f. koshunensis
• Ficus erecta f. sieboldii
• Ficus cornifolia
• Ficus beecheyana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Moraceae, it is classified under the genus Ficus. Specifically, this medicinal species is identified as Ficus erecta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, it is primarily found in the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its range extends further into Eastern Asia, where it is documented in Japan and Korea. Additionally, the species can be located within the Nansei-shoto islands. These specific locations define the natural habitat and spread of Ficus erecta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ficus erecta is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, typically as an adaptation to environmental changes or specific climatic cycles. This pattern of growth and leaf senescence defines its rhythmic biological cycle, alternating between periods of active vegetative growth and phases of dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus erecta is characterized by its woody growth form, which manifests primarily as a tree or shrub. This plant is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing tendencies such as vines or lianas. Its height varies depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum recorded height of 3 m, a mean height of 3.75 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

3.75 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus erecta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through atmospheric nitrogen fixation processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus erecta is characterized by a complex biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The species exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, necessitating external agents for successful sexual reproduction. The resulting fruits are fleshy in texture and vary in size, with a minimum length of 1 cm, a mean length of 1.5 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with a specific volumetric range, featuring a minimum seed volume of 1.1 mm³, a mean volume of 1.3 mm³, and a maximum volume of 1.5 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed volume max:

1.5 mm³

Seed volume mean:

1.3 mm³

Seed volume min:

1.1 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ficus erecta has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Toxicology reports

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Ficus erecta has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6A, Bergapten, Neolignans, Psoralen, RUTIN.

6A

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Bergapten

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Neolignans

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Psoralen

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

RUTIN

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

benzyl beta-d-glucopyranoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Ficus erecta has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's Disease, cognitive impairment.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations