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Ficus benjamina L.

Synonym                    : Ficus parvifolia Oken.

Family                        : Moraceae

Local Names              : Vellaaal, Golden fig, Benjamin tree, Java fig

Flowering and fruiting period: July – December 

Distribution: India and South China to Solomon Islands

Habitat: Planted as ornamental tree

IUCN status: Data Deficient

Endemic: No

Uses: Ornamental, anti-rheumatic, tannin source. The bark of the root, the root itself, and the leaves are boiled in oil and applied on wounds and bruises. The pounded leaves and bark are applied as a poultice in the treatment of rheumatic headaches. The inner bark is a source of fibre. The bark contains about 4.2% tannins. The wood is of low quality, but is used for temporary constructions, mouldings, interior work, cladding, drawers, small domestic articles, fruit crates etc.

Key Characters: Ficus benjamina are evergreen trees, aerial roots few. Leaves simple, alternate, distichous; lamina elliptic, margin entire. Inflorescence a syconia, axillary, sessile, paired, globose; internal bristles absent; flowers unisexual, of 4 kinds; male flowers: abundant; tepals 3; stamen 1, included; anthers oblong; female flowers: sessile, tepals 3-4; ovary  ovate, brownish; style tip curved; gall flowers similar to female flowers but pedicellate. Syconium orange, rarely pink or dark purple.