Hairy Fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hairy Fig

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ficus triloba subsp. quangtriensis
• Ficus beecheyana f. tenuifolia
• Ficus hirta var. dumosa
• Ficus hirta subsp. dumosa
• Ficus tournanensis
• Necalistis aspera
• Ficus ochracea
• Ficus simplicissima var. hirta
• Ficus setosa
• Ficus setacea
• Ficus quangtriensis
• Ficus porteri
• Ficus tridactylites
• Ficus palmatiloba
• Ficus hibiscifolia
• Ficus hirta
• Ficus hirta var. appressa
• Ficus hirta var. setosa
• Ficus hirta var. hibiscifolia
• Ficus hirta var. imberbis
• Ficus hirta var. integrifolia
• Ficus hirta var. malayana
• Ficus hirta subsp. ochracea
• Ficus hirta var. palmatiloba
• Ficus laus-esquirolii
• Ficus katsumadae
• Ficus dumosa

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 family Moraceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Ficus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range also extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically inhabiting the state of Assam. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the plant's presence in both mainland China and parts of South Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ficus simplicissima is characterized by its adaptation to specific altitudinal gradients within its native habitats. This species thrives across a diverse vertical range, establishing itself in environments situated between an elevation of 300 m AMSL and a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. This elevational distribution suggests an ability to inhabit both lowland tropical settings and mid-elevation montane ecosystems, where it interacts with varied moisture levels and temperature regimes typical of these altitudinal zones.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ficus simplicissima is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, specifically classified under both phanerophyte life form designations, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground level, typically in the form of a woody structure. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which supports continuous metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus simplicissima is characterized by its versatile growth forms, appearing as a tree or a shrub depending on environmental conditions. It exhibits a woody structure and can function as a self-supporting plant, though it may also display climbing habits such as a liana or vine. While it is primarily classified as a terrestrial species, its stature varies significantly, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 25 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 11.75 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

11.75 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus simplicissima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The vegetative morphology, specifically regarding its foliage, demonstrates significant variation in leaf dimensions; the leaves exhibit a mean length of 14 cm, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum length of 5 cm to a maximum length of 25 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms to support its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ficus simplicissima is characterized by specialized biological processes involving specific pollination and dispersal syndromes. The plant utilizes biotic pollination, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The resulting reproductive units are contained within fleshy fruits, which facilitates a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals. The seeds themselves are notably minute, with a consistent seed mass of 0.00035 g (where the minimum, mean, and maximum values are all identical) and a uniform seed volume of 0.4 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00035 g

Seed volume max:

0.4 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ficus simplicissima 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 root, fruit.

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. BMC plant biology

Fruit

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chemicals

Ficus simplicissima has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Psoralen, 3beta-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Bergapten.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Psoralen

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC plant biology

3beta-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Bergapten

1. BMC plant biology

Compound 1

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Coumarins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Esters

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Flavonoid

1. Biomedicines

Psoralene

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Ficus simplicissima has 7 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Hepatoprotective, Antiasthmatic.

Antifungal

1. BMC plant biology
2. Biomedicines

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Biomedicines

Antitumor

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. BMC plant biology

Hepatoprotective

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. BMC plant biology

Antiasthmatic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antitussive

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Ficus simplicissima has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Chinese folk medicine, Radix Fici Hirtae, Wuzhimaotao, aqueous extract, dry root.

Chinese folk medicine

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Radix fici hirtae

1. BMC plant biology

Wuzhimaotao

1. BMC plant biology

Aqueous extract

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Dry root

1. BMC plant biology

Roots

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica