Ficus sycomorus L.

Tree up to 20(–30) m. tall; trunk short; main branches spreading.. Leafy twigs (1–)2–6 mm. thick, densely minutely puberulous and with much longer white to yellowish hairs especially on the nodes; periderm flaking off when dry.. Lamina chartaceous to coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, obovate or subcircular, (1–)2.5–12(–21) × (0.5–)2–11(–16) cm., apex rounded to obtuse, base cordate to sometimes obtuse, margin subentire, slightly repand or denticulate; upper surface scabrous to scabridulous, sometimes almost smooth, hispidulous to strigillose, on the main veins whitish hirtellous to hirsute, lower surface puberulous to hispidulous, on the main veins partly whitish hirtellous or hirsute; lateral veins 5–10 pairs; petiole (0.5–)1–4(–6) cm. long, 1–3 mm. thick, densely minutely white puberulous and with much longer white to yellowish hairs, with the periderm flaking off when dry; stipules 0.5–2.5 cm. long, white puberulous to tomentose or partly hirtellous to hirsute, caducous.. Figs solitary or sometimes in pairs in the leaf-axils or just below the leaves, on up to 10 cm. long unbranched leafless branchlets or on up to 20(–35) cm. long branched leafless branchlets on the older branches down to the trunk; peduncle 0.3–2.5 cm. long, 1–3 mm. thick; basal bracts 2–3 mm. long.. Receptacle obovoid to pyriform or subglobose, often stipitate at least when dry, 1.5–5 cm. in diameter when fresh, (1–)1.5–3 cm. when dry, white to yellowish or brownish velutinous or densely tomentose to sparsely puberulous or pubescent, sometimes almost glabrous, yellowish to reddish at maturity.

A tropical plant. They will grow on most soils. Soils need to be well drained. They prefer a sunny open position. It is drought and frost resistant. It is probably damaged by frost when in leaf. It can grow in hot and arid regions. It grows well near rivers. In Africa trees are commonly near rivers in dry regions. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 200-1,800 mm. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It grows in the Sahel. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Fruit are eaten raw. They can also be dried. They are used for jam. They are eaten with millet and used to make an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. Young leaves are cooked for food. They are used in soups or peanut dishes. The latex is used as a vegetable rennet.

In the Mediterranean region sycamore figs do not set seed because the more tropical fig wasp does not occur there. In tropical places it can be grown from seeds. It can be grown by cuttings or layering. Trees can be pruned or lopped.