Ficus platyphylla

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ficus lateralis
• Urostigma binderianum
• Ficus platyphylla var. pubescens
• Urostigma kotschyanum
• Ficus kotschyana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling into the family Moraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ficus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several distinct nations, including Benin and Burkina. Additionally, the species can be found spanning through the territory of Gambia. The range also extends into the coastal areas of Ghana. Finally, the distribution includes the westernmost reaches of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ficus platyphylla is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a life form strategy that enables it to maintain structural dominance and survive various environmental stressors. This phanerophyte classification, consistent across its primary growth stages, ensures that its vital meristematic tissues are protected, supporting its continuous development and longevity within its habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus platyphylla is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber and reaches significant dimensions, with a documented maximum height of approximately 18.29 meters, though its mean height is recorded at 25 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus platypoda is characterized by complex metabolic processes optimized for its specific ecological niche, involving robust photosynthetic pathways and efficient water regulation. As a member of the Moraceae family, its physiological activity is centered around the production of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, which play crucial roles in defense mechanisms and cellular signaling. The plant exhibits specialized transpiration control through its stomatal regulation, allowing it to maintain turgor pressure and facilitate nutrient transport even under varying environmental stressors. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus platyphylla is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying heavily on insect vectors to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This specialized reproductive process involves various insect interactions to ensure successful fertilization. Once pollination is achieved, the plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the primary dispersal mechanism. The seeds contained within these fruits are uniform in size, characterized by a consistent seed volume of 4.2 mm³, with the minimum, maximum, and mean values all recorded at this specific measurement.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed volume max:

4.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ficus platyphylla has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry
2. Behavioural brain research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Ficus platyphylla has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Glycoside, Phenols, SAPONIN.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycoside

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Phenols

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

SAPONIN

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Steroids

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

cis-vaccenic acid

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

oleic acid

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

trans-13-Octadecenoic acid

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Activities

Ficus platyphylla has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anticonvulsant, Psychoactive.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticonvulsant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Psychoactive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Ficus platyphylla has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include depression, epilepsy, inflammation, pain, psychoses.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations