Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq

This tree is propagated by seeds and stem cuttings. Steps to follow: 1. Seed propagation: • Sow collected seeds in seed tray filled with a ratio of 3 peat moss: 1 compost, 5 cm apart. • Irrigate the seed tray three times a week. • Germination commences from 14–24 days. Seed germination of this species is low and average germination is around 12%. 2. Cutting propagation: • For stem cutting propagation, use softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings with at least 5 nodes. • For better rooting, use cutting hormone, and plant in long root trainer or pots filled with a ratio of 1 peat moss: 3 perlites: 1 compost. • Leave cutting on a bench with mist irrigation. • Stem rooting can vary from 13–94 days, with average rooting around 12%.

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Red-Leaved Fig
Red-leaved Rock Fig
Red-leaf Wild Fig
Rock Fig
Wild Fig

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "The edible fruit are called [J: zerf or șerf] are smaller than the fruit of the other edible figs, making their gathering much less demanding. They were formerly picked in huge quantities and stored as food for the coming year. The fruit keeps well, and once properly sun-dried, is apparently relatively resistant to insect attack. The wood of the bush provided good, short but stout sticks used in making implement handles, cradles, and the wooden frameworks for such items as the butter-making tripod, or the scarecrow [J: si: site] used in the garden plots or placed in a prominent position, clothed in a woman's discarded dress, to reassure the herd of goats that they were still under surveillance of their herder while the actual herder was in fact absent about some other business. Well-grown species of this fig were regarded as ... being reliable indicators of an area of good soil, as were healthy bushes of Pavetta longiflora, Olea europaea, Euclea schimperi and the herb Becium dhofarense. The latex that exudes from the immature figs and from the growing stems can be used in place of the sap of Ficus vasta in the setting of fractures and dislocations, but that of F. vasta was more copious and was also considered to be more effective, so was always preferred where there was a choice. The milky juice of both figs was regarded as being a good remedy for severe swellings or infections which were slow to come to head [J: hodo as opposed to J: hilet, any swelling]. The juice was painted around and over the swollen part to draw out the pus. This fig 'milk' was regarded by many as being more efficacious for this than applications of latex from Euphorbia smithii or E. larica. The greenery was an important fodder in periods of drought, and leaves of this fig as well as of F. vasta and F. sycomorus were collected with foliage from Rhus somalense, Azima tetracantha, Pavetta longiflora, Anogeissus dhofarica, Periploca aphylla, and Capparis cartilaginea, to be taken back to feed the settlement livestock". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2003). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.1: Piperaceae – Primulaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 25). ISBN 90-72619-55-2 ISSN 0779-2387. *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *https://en.wikipedia.org *https://www.nparks.gov.sg *https://treesa.org *https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw *POWO (2022). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org