FICUS ILICINA

This member of the Moraceae family was given this name by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in1867.

It is found in the north western corner of South Africa, in western Namibia and southern Angola. It grows on bare rocks, their cracks and their gravel with some water and some to lots of sun. The stem starts with a nice caudex, but when it passes 15 centimetres, it turns into a slim stem, which can reach for up to six or even ten meters. The minute flowers are green.

The genera name originates from the old Latin name for Ficus carica which was from the Persian word fica..

The species name pertains to the leaves of the laurel fig, which resemble those of the holm oak, Quercus ilex.