Cluster Fig (Ficus racemosa)

Cluster Fig (Ficus racemosa syn. Ficus glomerata) is a species of plant in the Moraceae family. It is an attractive fig tree,  native to South Asia, with a crooked trunk and a spreading crown. Unlike the banyan, it has no aerial roots. The most distinctive aspect of this tree is the red, furry figs in short clusters, which grow directly out of the trunk of the tree. Those looking for the flower of cluster fig should know that the fig is actually a compartment carrying hundreds of flowers. One might wonder how these flowers enclosed in a ball are pollinated. The flowers are pollinated by very small wasps that crawl through the opening in search of a suitable place to reproduce (lay eggs) Without this pollinator service fig trees cannot reproduce by seed. In turn, the flowers provide a safe haven and nourishment for the next generation of wasps.

Cluster fig is a tree commonly found in cities and towns. It has evergreen leaves, if it is close to a water source. Otherwise it sheds its leaves in January. Figs have been traditionally used by children to play. Thin sticks can be joined by inserting them in cluster figs to make interesting shapes.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Rosales
Family : Moraceae
Genus : Ficus
Species : Ficus racemosa

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Ficus (FY-kus) - From the Latin for Ficus carica, an edible fig.
• racemosa (ray-see-MO-suh) - Having racemes (a type of flower cluster).

Common Names:

• Cluster Fig, Cluster Tree, Country Fig, Crattock, Gular Fig, Redwood Fig (English)
• Udumbara, Gular, Hemadugdhaka, Jantuphala, Sadaphalah, Yajnanga (Sanskrit)
• Goolar, Ambar, Doomar, Domoor, Udumbara, Umar, Umba (Hindi)
• Audumbar, Umbar (Marathi)
• Anai, Atthi, Attee marum, Malaiyin munivan, Utumparam, Vellaiatthi (Tamil)
• Atti, Athiathial, Atthi (Malayalam)
• Rumadi, Alhi, Atti, Atthimara (Kannada)
• Arri, Athi, Bodda, Maydi, Paidi, Udumbaramu (Telugu)
• Dimri (Oriya)
• Heibong (Manipuri)
• Gular, Umardo (Gujarati)
• Dumur, Jagyadumbar (Bengali)
• Dimiri (Urdu)

Links:

• Flowers of India - Cluster Fig

Image Courtesy of Dinesh Valke.