Cecropia palmata Willd.

Tree up to 1
 tall. Branchlets 2-5 cm thick, puberulous to hispidulous, partly with uncinate hairs, prostomata present. Stipules 7-15 cm long, subpersistent, puberulous (or also with sparse, white arachnoid hairs) outside; petiole up to 60(-90) cm long, trichilia present, these without long, white hairs; blade (sub)coriaceous, ca. 20-60(-100) x 20-60(-100) cm, incisions 7-11, down to 1/2-3/4 the distance between outline and petiole, upper surface scabr(idul)ous, lower surface on the veins densely puberulous, partly with uncinate hairs, and with arachnoid hairs in the areoles and along the margin; secondary veins of the free part of the midsegment ca. 15-20 pairs, mostly branched, marginally loop-connected. Staminate inflorescences: peduncle pendulous, 6-18 cm long; spathe 10-17 cm long, with dense, arachnoid hairs; spikes 4-6(-11), stipitate, (1-)8-15 x 0.8-1.8 cm; perianth glabrous at the apex, with dense, arachnoid hairs below the apex; anthers after abscission attached to the flower by the stretched spiral thickenings of the vascular bundle of the filament. Pistillate inflorescences: peduncle pendulous, 20-25 cm long; spathe 10-22 cm long, with dense, arachnoid hairs; spikes 4, sessile, 8-20 x 0.5-0.8 cm, in fruit up to 30 x 1.5 cm; perianth glabrous at the apex, arachnoid hairs below the apex; stigma subulate. Fruit ca. 3 mm long, more or less tuberculate.

A tropical plant. It needs a humus-rich, well-drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It is damaged by drought or frost. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

The fruit are eaten. They have the flavour and texture of figs. They are eaten fresh or used as a filling for cakes. The young buds are eaten as a potherb.

It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.