Ficus tinctoria gibbosa (Bl.) Corner

Usually a hemi epiphyte i.e. usually young plants are epiphytic and later when the roots come in contact with the ground the it encircles the host tree often resulting in death of host tree.

Seeds are passed through the alimentary canals of birds and other animals that feed on the fruits.

Small tree usually hemi epiphyte. Bark gray. Branchlets brown. Stipules lanceolate, Leaves distichous, leaf blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, base broadly cuneate, margin entire or toothed, apex acute. Figs axillary on leafy shoots, solitary and paired, globose, with sparse small tubercles, slightly rough, base attenuate into stalk, peduncle short, involucral bracts ovate, margin revolute when dry. Male flowers near mouth of receptacles, stamens 1, ovary obliquely ovoid, style lateral. Female flowers calyx lobes thin, transparent and linear, style persistent, lateral, short, stigma enlarged. Achenes ellipsoid. Syconus fruit.

Wasps play an important role in pollination and reproduction of this species.

Susceptible to insect pests.

Evergreen to moist deciduous forests.

Rocky areas, Forest area

Not evaluated by the IUCN Redlist. Least Concern (Ganeshaiah, K. N. et. al. (2012) Plants of Western Ghats)

Leaves used to polish ivory. Bark and root used as medicine against diarrhoea, menorrhagia, constipation, fever and astringent.