Spotted Leaf Fig

Scientific name: Ficus citrifolia

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Not Evaluated

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.17″ N, 64° 49′ 50.73″ W

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Medicinal Uses

Ficus citrifolia (Shortleaf Fig) has diverse traditional medicinal uses, with various parts of the plant traditionally applied for cancer, digestive issues (constipation, worms, diarrhea), pain (toothaches, headaches, rheumatism), skin conditions, and even circulatory problems, leveraging compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer properties, though modern scientific validation is ongoing. 

Traditional Uses by Body System

  • Digestive System: Used for constipation, intestinal worms, dysentery, and diarrhea.
  • Pain Relief (Analgesic): Applied for toothaches, headaches, lumbago (lower back pain), and general inflammation.
  • Skin & Wounds: Latex and other extracts were used for skin disorders, bruises, cracks in the soles of feet, and general wound healing.
  • Respiratory: Traditional uses for asthma and coughs.
  • Circulatory/Heart: Used for heart ailments and potentially to lower blood pressure (though more research is needed).
  • Cancer: Extracts have shown anti-cancer properties in studies, with traditional use for tumors and modern research exploring its role in chemotherapy.
  • Other: Also used for gonorrhea, piles (hemorrhoids), and fever. 

Key Medicinal Components

  • Secondary Metabolites: Contains lignans (like arctigenin) with anti-cancer effects, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, contributing to its bioactivity.
  • Latex: Contains compounds used topically for pain and inflammation. 

Modern Research & Considerations

  • Studies highlight its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential, supporting traditional claims.
  • Research is exploring how Ficus citrifolia extracts can enhance chemotherapy and fight viruses.
  • While promising, always consult healthcare professionals before using herbal remedies, as proper dosing and interactions (especially with diabetes medications) need careful consideration, notes RxList. 

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Ficus citrifolia

Common Name: Shortleaf Fig, Wild Fig, Florida Strangler Fig
Scientific Name: Ficus citrifolia Mill.
Family: Moraceae

According to a 2004 forest inventory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ficus citrifolia is listed under common names such as “wild fig,” “strangler fig,” “shortleaf fig,” and notably “spotted leaf fig” USFS Research & Development.

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Simple, alternate, ovate to elliptical with smooth or slightly wavy margins; glossy green
  • Evergreen/Semi-deciduous: Evergreen in humid tropical conditions; semi-deciduous in drier climates or during drought
  • Leaf Flush: New leaf growth occurs multiple times per year, often after rainfall or fruiting
  • Senescence: Older leaves gradually yellow and fall year-round; more leaf drop may occur during stress or dry season

Flowering (Syconia Development)

  • Flower Type: Tiny, enclosed within a fig (syconium); not externally visible
  • Pollination: Obligate mutualism with fig wasps (Pegoscapus sp.) that enter through the fig’s opening (ostiole) to pollinate internal flowers
  • Phenological Indicator: Appearance of green immature figs, often clustered along branches or in leaf axils; pollination occurs inside the fig
  • Flowering Period: Year-round, with multiple overlapping fruiting cycles common

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Fleshy fig (syconium), small (1–2 cm), turns from green to reddish-orange or purplish when mature
  • Fruit Development: Matures in 4–6 weeks after pollination; figs often produced in large numbers
  • Dispersal: Birds, bats, and other animals
  • Phenological Indicator: Visible clusters of ripening figs on twigs and branches; color change from green to red/purple indicates maturity

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Full tree form (note: may start as epiphyte or strangler)
  • Close-up of leaves, especially new flush and mature form
  • Clusters of green and ripening figs along branches or trunk
  • Leaf senescence (yellowing or shedding)
  • Habitat context (e.g., growing around host or as freestanding tree)

Notes for Monitoring

Watch for wasp exit holes on older figs as a subtle indicator of pollination success

Ficus citrifolia plays a key ecological role as a keystone species in tropical forests, providing food for wildlife nearly year-round

Because figs are produced frequently and asynchronously, monitor fig presence, ripening stages, and associated wildlife activity

Leaf flush, fig production, and leaf drop can overlap, offering rich year-round phenological data

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