The Bark is a creamy colour and a few grey scales are scattered here and there over it, giving it a mottled appearance. The bark is smooth.
The Leaves are 3-4 inches long and an inch wide with an inch stalk. They gradually widen from the base upwards and suddenly narrow to a point. The upper surface is dark, shiny green and the mid-rib and leaf stalk are very light green. The under surface is lighter in colour. The mid-rib is prominently raised on the underneath only. The margin is slightly waved. The leaves are arranged spirally in clusters of about 20 on the last 3-4 inches of the twigs, presenting a whorled arrangement.
The Figs are in 3-9 inch long clusters on the otherwise bare twigs, though they may be borne on the tree when it is in leaf. They are just over ¼ inch in diameter and when ripe are green with a red tint, round and the surface covered with small warts. They are eaten by birds which distribute the seeds to other trees where the tree starts life as a parasite. The crop of figs is a very heavy one.
FICUS KAWURI Hutch.—Kawuri. MORACEAE.
This is perhaps the largest fig tree with the exception of Ficus polita, “durumi,” attaining a height of 50-60 feet with girths of over 20 feet. It may start life as a parasite, when it forms the usual mass of aerial stems forming a compound bole. It grows to vast dimensions, forming a sun-proof shade with its dense, regular-shaped and clearly outlined crown. It is common in and around towns. The slash is pale red-brown with a flow of milky sap.
The Leaves are large, some 6 inches long and 3 inches wide on an average, 8 inches long and 3½ inches wide being the largest. They are broadly spear-shaped with cordate base and tongued tip. The upper surface is very dark green and shiny, the venation clearly marked and prominent on the surface, the mid-rib and main lateral nerves only prominent on the duller under surface. The leaves spring from the short, blunt twigs in a rosette formation.
The Figs are small, squat, pear-shaped and with black mouths, and are borne in small clusters of 2-4 in the axils of the leaves or behind the leaves on the wood. They turn from whitish to pink with purplish tints when ripe, and birds are very partial to them.
