Ficus aurea Nutt.
  • N. Amer. Sylv. 2: 4 (1846) 
  • Golden Wild Fig


Cite taxon page as 'WFO (2023): Ficus aurea Nutt. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000687419. Accessed on: 27 Sep 2023'

Local Descriptions

Order descriptions by:

General Information

Trees , evergreen, to 20 m. Roots aerial, sometimes present on branches, pendent, sometimes reaching ground and forming pillar-roots. Bark gray, smooth. Branchlets yellow. Leaves: stipules 1-1.5 cm; petiole 1-6 cm. Leaf blade ovate to oblong or obovate, 6-12(-15) × 3.5-6 cm, leathery, base rounded to cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse or shortly and bluntly acuminate; surfaces abaxially and adaxially glabrous; basal veins 1(-2) pairs; lateral veins fewer than 10, if more these not uniformly spaced. Syconia usually paired, usually sessile, rarely with peduncles to 5 mm, red or yellow, obovoid, 6-15 mm diam., glabrous; subtending bracts 2, 3-5 mm, glabrous; ostiole prominent, closed by 3 conspicuous scales.

  • Provided by: [E].Flora of North America @ efloras.org
    • Source: [
    • 1
    • ]. 

    Ficus aurea Nutt., N. Amer. Sylv. 2(4): pl. 43. 1846; F. tuerckheimii Standl.; F. jimenezii Standl.; F. isophlebia Standl.

    Arboles, hasta 30 m de alto, iniciándose como epífitos pero tornándose independientes; ramas glabras, café obscuras o grises, con depresiones escalariformes dejadas por los higos caídos. Hojas variables en forma y tamaño, oblongas, elípticas a ampliamente ovadas, 7–20 cm de largo y 2.5–10 cm de ancho, obtusas a obtusamente acuminadas en el ápice, cuneadas, redondeadas a subcordadas en la base, glabras, lisas y rígidamente cartáceas cuando secas, 7–10 pares de nervios secundarios, enlazados formando un marcado nervio colector submarginal, nervios terciarios inconspicuos; pecíolos 1.5–3.5 (–5) cm de largo, glabros, estípulas 1–2 (–3) cm de largo, glabras a menudamente puberulentas. Higos 2 por nudo, globosos a oblatos, 0.8–1.4 cm de diámetro, glabros, verdes a rojos, a veces con manchas purpúreas, ostíolo ligeramente prominente, sésiles, dejando al caer depresiones escalariformes en el tallo, brácteas basales 2, 4–8 mm de largo, cubriendo una gran porción del higo, con un área basal engrosada y disciforme, glabras.

    Localmente común, bosques muy húmedos, nebliselvas, bosques deciduos, zonas atlántica y norcentral; 50–1600 m; Moreno 22422, Stevens 9624; Florida a Panamá y las antillas.

  • Provided by: [D].Flora de Nicaragua
    • Source: [
    • 2
    • ]. 

    Habit

    Ficus aurea grows as a large tree to 20 meters in height, a trunk to 1.25 meters in diameter, with branches producing aerial roots that can become secondary trunks. The leaves are arranged alternately, to 25 cm in length, oblong with an entire margin and an acuminate leaf apex. Where the petiole attaches to the stem there is a prominent ring on the stem formed from the dehiscent apical sheath. The apical sheath has a slight hook at its tip known as a “cat’s claw.” Vegetative material produces milky latex when broken.Ficus aurea is monoecious. The highly reduced, incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are borne entirely within a structure known as a synconium (fig) and are fertilized by wasps. Staminate flowers have a perianth of 2-6 parts and 2 anthers. The carpellate flowers have no perianth or stamens and a single superior carpel. The berry-like “fruit” is without a stalk, being sessile on the stem and turns yellowish-red at maturity.Ficus aurea is distinguished from F. citrifolia by having leaves that are a lighter green and the “fruit” is sessile on the stem

  • Provided by: [C].Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 

    Habitat

    Ficus aurea grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Forests/Woodlands/ and Shrublands in and around sinkholes. It is occasionally found in Sabal palmetto- dominated woodlands.Ficus aurea is often known to germinate while on other trees forming roots that may encompass the trunk of the “host” giving it the name of Strangler Fig.

  • Provided by: [C].Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 

    Distribution

    Ficus aurea

  • Provided by: [C].Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 

    Uses

    Ficus aurea is used in the Lucayan to treat cancer, gastrointestinal problems (constipation, worms), circulatory issues (heart ailments), dermatological matters, and pain (tooth aches).

  • Provided by: [C].Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 
    Leon Levy Native Plant PreserveHabitat

    Ficus aurea grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Forests/Woodlands/ and Shrublands in and around sinkholes. It is occasionally found in Sabal palmetto- dominated woodlands.Ficus aurea is often known to germinate while on other trees forming roots that may encompass the trunk of the “host” giving it the name of Strangler Fig.

    Habit

    Ficus aurea grows as a large tree to 20 meters in height, a trunk to 1.25 meters in diameter, with branches producing aerial roots that can become secondary trunks. The leaves are arranged alternately, to 25 cm in length, oblong with an entire margin and an acuminate leaf apex. Where the petiole attaches to the stem there is a prominent ring on the stem formed from the dehiscent apical sheath. The apical sheath has a slight hook at its tip known as a “cat’s claw.” Vegetative material produces milky latex when broken.Ficus aurea is monoecious. The highly reduced, incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are borne entirely within a structure known as a synconium (fig) and are fertilized by wasps. Staminate flowers have a perianth of 2-6 parts and 2 anthers. The carpellate flowers have no perianth or stamens and a single superior carpel. The berry-like “fruit” is without a stalk, being sessile on the stem and turns yellowish-red at maturity.Ficus aurea is distinguished from F. citrifolia by having leaves that are a lighter green and the “fruit” is sessile on the stem

    Uses

    Ficus aurea is used in the Lucayan to treat cancer, gastrointestinal problems (constipation, worms), circulatory issues (heart ailments), dermatological matters, and pain (tooth aches).

    Distribution

    Ficus aurea

    Flora de NicaraguaGeneral Information

    Ficus aurea Nutt., N. Amer. Sylv. 2(4): pl. 43. 1846; F. tuerckheimii Standl.; F. jimenezii Standl.; F. isophlebia Standl.

    Arboles, hasta 30 m de alto, iniciándose como epífitos pero tornándose independientes; ramas glabras, café obscuras o grises, con depresiones escalariformes dejadas por los higos caídos. Hojas variables en forma y tamaño, oblongas, elípticas a ampliamente ovadas, 7–20 cm de largo y 2.5–10 cm de ancho, obtusas a obtusamente acuminadas en el ápice, cuneadas, redondeadas a subcordadas en la base, glabras, lisas y rígidamente cartáceas cuando secas, 7–10 pares de nervios secundarios, enlazados formando un marcado nervio colector submarginal, nervios terciarios inconspicuos; pecíolos 1.5–3.5 (–5) cm de largo, glabros, estípulas 1–2 (–3) cm de largo, glabras a menudamente puberulentas. Higos 2 por nudo, globosos a oblatos, 0.8–1.4 cm de diámetro, glabros, verdes a rojos, a veces con manchas purpúreas, ostíolo ligeramente prominente, sésiles, dejando al caer depresiones escalariformes en el tallo, brácteas basales 2, 4–8 mm de largo, cubriendo una gran porción del higo, con un área basal engrosada y disciforme, glabras.

    Localmente común, bosques muy húmedos, nebliselvas, bosques deciduos, zonas atlántica y norcentral; 50–1600 m; Moreno 22422, Stevens 9624; Florida a Panamá y las antillas.

    Flora of North America @ efloras.orgGeneral Information

    Trees , evergreen, to 20 m. Roots aerial, sometimes present on branches, pendent, sometimes reaching ground and forming pillar-roots. Bark gray, smooth. Branchlets yellow. Leaves: stipules 1-1.5 cm; petiole 1-6 cm. Leaf blade ovate to oblong or obovate, 6-12(-15) × 3.5-6 cm, leathery, base rounded to cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse or shortly and bluntly acuminate; surfaces abaxially and adaxially glabrous; basal veins 1(-2) pairs; lateral veins fewer than 10, if more these not uniformly spaced. Syconia usually paired, usually sessile, rarely with peduncles to 5 mm, red or yellow, obovoid, 6-15 mm diam., glabrous; subtending bracts 2, 3-5 mm, glabrous; ostiole prominent, closed by 3 conspicuous scales.

    Nationally Preferred Names

    NameLanguageCountry
    Golden Wild FigEnglishBS

    Other Local Names

    NameLanguageCountry
    Strangler fig, golden fig

     Information From

    MBG Floras Images
    http://www.tropicos.org/ImageSearch.aspx
    Flora images. Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed on Jun. 2018.
    • A Missouri Botanical Garden
    Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
    http://www.levypreserve.org
    Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. 2020. Flora by Common Name and by Scientific Name. Bahamas National Trust. Available at www.levypreserve.org Accessed on (2020/07/09).
    • B Ethan Freid All rights Preserved
    • C Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. All rights Preserved
    Flora de Nicaragua
    http://www.tropicos.org/projectwebportal.aspx?projectid=7&pagename=Home&langid=66
    WD Stevens, CU Ulloa, A Pool and OM Montiel. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 2001
    • D Missouri Botanical Garden
    Flora of North America @ efloras.org
    http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1
    'Flora of North America @ eFloras (2008). Published on the Internet http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1 [accessed August 2016]' Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
    • E Flora of North America Association
    Global Tree Search
    https://tools.bgci.org/global_tree_search.php
    GlobalTreeSearch online database. Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Richmond, U.K. Available at www.bgci.org. Accessed on 21/04/2022. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34206.61761
    • F Botanic Gardens Conservation International
    International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
    https://www.iucnredlist.org/
    IUCN 2022. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-3. ISSN 2307-8235
    • G See IUCN Terms and conditions of use http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/terms-of-use
    Moraceae
    https://powo.science.kew.org/
    World Flora Online Data. 2022.
    • H CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).
    Vahliaceae
    http://www.worldfloraonline.org/organisation/Vahliaceae
    World Flora Online Data. 2021.
    • I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).