- Ficus pumila
-
Ficus pumila 
Ficus pumila covering the stem of a palm Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Ficus Species: F. pumila Binomial name Ficus pumila
L.Ficus pumila (creeping fig or "climbing fig") is a woody evergreen vine that is native to East Asia.
This plant requires the fig wasp Blastophaga pumilae for pollination, and is fed upon by larvae of the butterfly Marpesia petreus.
Contents
Varieties
Uses
Dried inside out fruit of F. pumila var awkeotsang, ready for use
As the common names would suggest, it has a creeping habit and is often used as a houseplant. It is hardy and fast growing and requires little in the way of care as long as the soil is not allowed to dry out between waterings. There are several cultivars, including a variegated and crinkled leaf form.
In warmer climates it can be grown outdoors, but it can become invasive and cover landscape features if not contained. It should not be allowed to climb houses or wooden structures, as the woody tendrils can damage buildings.
Other than its use as a decorative plant, the fruit of F. pumila var. awkeotsang is also used in cuisine. In Taiwan, its fruit is turned inside out and dried. The seeds are scraped off and a gel is extracted from their surface with water and allowed to set and form a jelly known in Taiwan as aiyu jelly (or aiyuzi 愛玉子) and in Singapore as ice jelly (文頭雪).
Additional Images
Foliage of F. pumila
Foliage of F. pumilaExternal links
This Moraceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
