Ficus lutea Vahl

Tree up to 20 m. tall, hemi-epiphytic or secondarily terrestrial, with a spreading crown.. Leafy twigs 5–12(–20) mm. thick, puberulous, white to yellow tomentose to subhirsute or glabrous, periderm flaking off when dry.. Leaves in spirals; lamina coriaceous, elliptic to oblong or ± obovate, 7–25(–45) × 3–12(–20) cm., apex acuminate, base obtuse to acute or ± cordate, margin entire; upper surface glabrous or puberulous on the midrib, lower surface sparsely to, less often, densely puberulous to hirtellous to ± tomentose, on the main veins to subhirsute, only subhirsute on the main veins, or entirely glabrous; lateral veins (4–)6–10(–12) pairs; tertiary venation partly scalariform; petiole 1.5–13(–17) cm. long, 2–3(–8) mm. thick, epiderm flaking off when dry; stipules 0.5–2.5 cm. long, on flush up to 8 cm., puberulous or also white to yellow subsericeous, caducous.. Figs up to 4 together in the leaf-axils or ± just below the leaves, sessile, initially in a white pubescent to subhirsute calyptrate bud up to 5 mm. long; basal bracts 3–6 mm. long, persistent.. Receptacle ± globose, ± 1–2.5(–? 3.5) cm. in diameter when fresh, 0.8–1.5(–2.5) cm. when dry, puberulous to white or yellow pubescent or subhirsute, smooth or warted, yellow to orange or brownish at maturity.

A tropical plant. It grows in river forests and woodland. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It can be in palm groves, on the edges of mangroves and in coastal sands. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 600-1000 mm per year. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

The fig fruit are eaten as a snack.

Plants can be grown by seeds. It can be grown from branch cuttings. Cuttings grow easily.