Ficus sur (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Ficus sur (F. capensis) Moraceae Indigenous

• English: Cape fig
• Agewgna: Emwi
• Agnuakgna: Olam
• Amargna: Shola
• Bertagna: Mensha
• Nuyergna: Mop
• Oromugna: Habru, Harbu

A widespread African fig tree occurring in eastern Africa, extending east to Yemen and south to Angola and South Africa. In Ethiopia, it is found along river banks, in upland rain forest, mountain grassland or secondary scrub in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones in nearly all regions, 1,400–2,500 m.

Timber (local furniture, boxes), food (fruit), medicine (bark, milky sap, roots), shade, ceremonial.

A large tree often strongly buttressed to 30 m and up to 150 cm in diameter.

• BARK: Smooth, grey, darker grey-brown with age.
• LEAVES: Large, broadly oval, to 20 x 13 cm, usually smooth, edge often widely toothed, sometimes wavy, veins clear below, stalk grooved and flexible to 6 cm.
• FRUIT: Figs in heavy clusters on branches to 70 cm long from trunk or older wood, figs round, usually 2 cm across but can be larger, on stalks, orange-red, often hairy, soft and edible, having many seeds and often insects too.

Cuttings, wildings and seedlings.

Tiny seed are contained in figs. Slice the fig, dry it in the sun and shake out the seed.

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Should be sown soon after extraction.

Lopping, pollarding.

Farmers have now focused on this tree due to unavailability of Cordia trees for making boxes, chairs and tables locally. Fruits often full of insects.