Ficus insipida
Ficus insipida, commonly known as the weeping fig or various local names, is a versatile medicinal plant valued in traditional healing. Often found in tropical regions, its leaves and bark possess significant bioactive properties, traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions, digestive issues, and skin ailments through diverse herbal applications.
- Scientific name: Ficus insipida
- Family: Moraceae
- Native range: Northern America
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 organized under the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ficus, specifically as the species Ficus insipida.
| 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 insipida, is recognized by various local names across different linguistic traditions. In Nahuatl, it is referred to as Āmacuahuitl, while in Quechua, the name used is Tankama. In Russian, the plant is called Аматe, and in Spanish, it is commonly known as cabeza de piyo. Additionally, in Simplified Chinese, it is identified as 无味榕.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| nah | Āmacuahuitl | Wikidata |
| qu | Tankama | Wikidata |
| ru | Амате | Wikidata |
| es | cabeza de piyo | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 无味榕 | Wikidata |
| zh | 无味榕 | Wikidata |
| ar | تين أجرد | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 无味榕 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 無味榕 | Wikidata |
| qu | Ficus glabrata | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across various regions of Mexico. It can be found throughout the central parts of the country in Mexico Central. The species also extends its reach into the northeastern territories of Mexico Northeast. Furthermore, its habitat includes the coastal and inland areas of Mexico Gulf. Finally, the distribution continues into the western territories of Mexico Northwest and Mexico Southwest.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ficus insipida, is characterized by the presence of a milky, white substance known as latex, which flows from the stems and leaves when the plant tissue is damaged. This latex serves as a vital component of the plant's biological makeup and is the primary part utilized in various traditional medicinal applications. In many cultures, this sticky secretion is harvested for its specific therapeutic properties, making the latex a central element in the plant's medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| latex | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ficus insipida has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |