Wild Fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild Fig

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pharmacosycea anthelmintica
• Galoglychia martinicensis
• Pharmacosycea brittonii
• Ficus insipida subsp. scabra
• Ficus helminthagoga
• Ficus glabrata
• Ficus glabrata var. obtusula
• Ficus longistipula
• Ficus palmirana
• Ficus werckleana
• Ficus whitei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ficus insipida is characterized by its presence in diverse forest environments, specifically thriving within Floresta de Terra Firme and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2850 m AMSL, although it typically occupies lower reaches with a mean elevational range of approximately 150 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2850 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Ficus insipida is characterized by its long-lived nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche over many years. Throughout its development, the plant maintains a consistent foliage profile due to its evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its leaves and continues photosynthetic activity across different seasons rather than shedding them annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus insipida is characterized by its substantial stature and robust growth form, typically manifesting as a woody tree. This species exhibits significant variation in size, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 8 meters to a maximum of 40 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 20 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining firmly rooted in the ground. The plant is an independent species, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it is classified as a self-supporting structure rather than a climbing vine or liana. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody composition, which supports its large-scale tree habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus insipida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its leaf morphology and structural composition reflect specific resource allocation strategies, with an average leaf length of 16.7 cm and an average leaf width of 7.4 cm. The leaf thickness is measured at a mean of 0.0265 mm, contributing to its overall vegetative architecture. Furthermore, the plant maintains a consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with both the minimum and maximum values, as well as the mean, recorded at 304.6 mg/g, indicating a stable density of organic matter within the leaf tissue. Regarding nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

304.6 mg/g

Leaf length mean:

16.7 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.0265 mm

Leaf width mean:

7.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus insipida is characterized by a specialized biological process involving biotic pollination and zoochorous dispersal. The pollination syndrome is primarily biotic, relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces a fleshy fruit type (classified under the "other" category typical of the syconium structure in the Ficus genus) that serves as a vehicle for seed dispersal. Dispersal is zoochorous, meaning it is mediated by animals that consume the fleshy fruit. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00163125 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.000175 g to a maximum of 0.002 g) and a mean length of 1.4 mm. The seed dimensions vary, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 mm up to a maximum of 6 mm, a maximum width of 1 mm, and a maximum height of 1 mm. Furthermore, the seed volume is tightly clustered, with a mean volume of 0.505 mm³, falling within a range between a minimum of 0.46 mm³ and a maximum of 0.52 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

1 mm

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

1.4 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.002 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00163125 g

Seed mass min:

0.000175 g

Seed volume max:

0.52 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.505 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.46 mm³

Seed width max:

1 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ficus insipida has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ficin.

Ficin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Ficus insipida has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic.

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Ficus insipida has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include latex.

Latex

1. Acta parasitologica