Ficus lutea
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Giant-leaved fig
|image = Ficus_lutea_leaves.jpg
|image2 = Ficus lutea, vye, Manie van der Schijff BT, a.jpg
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|taxon = Ficus lutea
|authority = Vahl
|synonyms = F. vogelii, F. quibeba, F. nekbudu
|}}
Ficus lutea is a medium to large sized deciduous tree in the family Moraceae. It is commonly known as the giant-leaved fig or Lagos rubbertree. These trees occur from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Tropical Africa.
Description
Ficus lutea is a tree that grows up to {{cvt|25|m}} in height, its crown is large and spreading, while the bark is brownish to dark grey; when in open areas, the trunk is commonly short with buttressed roots but in forest environments, the trunks tend to be longer.{{Citation |last=Blom van Staden |first=Analike |title=Chapter 20 - Ficus lutea |date=2020-01-01 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012816814100020X |work=Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa |pages=133–138 |editor-last=Lall |editor-first=Namrita |access-date=2024-01-11 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-816814-1 |last2=Lall |first2=Namrita}} Leaves of Ficus lutea clusters at the end of branches, reaches up to {{cvt|43|cm}} in length and {{cvt|20|cm}} in width, the outline of leaves are ovate to elliptical with an acuminate apex and the base is cordate or rounded, the surface is glossy .{{Cite thesis |title=The value of extracts of Ficus lutea (Moraceae) in the management of Type II diabetes in a mouse obesity model |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/25061 |publisher=University of Pretoria |date=2012 |degree=PhD |first=Oyinlola Oluwunmi |last=Olaokun}} Figs borne in leaf axils or on bare twigs below the leaves, they reach up to {{cvt|30|mm}} in diameter and are densely hairy especially when young.{{Cite book |last=Schmidt |first=Ernst |title=Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park |last2=Lotter |first2=Mervyn |last3=McCleland |first3=Warren |last4=Burrows |first4=John |last5=Burrows |first5=Sandie |date=2002 |publisher=Jacana |isbn=978-1-919777-30-6 |location=Johannesburg |pages=78}}
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in riparian forests, woodlands and evergreen forests in West, East and Southern Africa.
Chemistry
Chemical compounds isolated from the extracts of the plant include α-Tocopherol, epiafzelechin, phytol, beta-sitosterol, lupeol, b-amyrin, and b-amyrin acetate.
References
{{Reflist}}
- Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. {{ISBN|0-620-17697-0}}.