Shrub or tree up to 10(-15) m tall. Leafy twigs 2-4 mm thick, sparsely whitish hispidulous and ± scabrous; internodes mostly hollow. Leaves mostly spirally arranged or less commonly (sub)opposite or subverticillate; lamina oblong to elliptic (to (sub)obovate or to lanceolate), (3-)6-20(-26) by (1.5-)3-8(-10) cm, symmetric or slightly asymmetric, subcoriaceous, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded (to cordate), margin entire to coarsely crenate-dentate (to lobate when juvenile), often ± revolute; upper surface sparsely hispidulous, scabridulous to almost smooth, lower surface (very) sparsely whitish hispidulous on the main veins, ± scabrous; cystoliths on both sides, upper and lower surface mostly drying different in colour, usually (darker) brown beneath, often shining above; lateral veins (3-)4-9 pairs, the basal pair running close to the margin, up to (1/5-)1/4-1/3 the length of the lamina, mostly unbranched, tertiary venation (laxly) scalariform (to subreticulate); waxy glands in the axils of both basal lateral veins or sometimes also smaller ones in the axils of other lateral veins; petiole 0.5-2(-4.5) cm long, usually distinctly different in length on the same twig, (very) sparsely whitish hispidulous, the epidermis persistent or flaking off over the whole length or only at the base; stipules lateral, almost subulate, stiff and ± distinctly keeled, and often finely striate, 0.5-1 cm long, glabrous or appressed-puberulous, caducous or subpersistent; on twig apices often tufts of (sub)persistent stipules. Figs axillary, solitary, mostly ramiflorous to cauliflorous, on (clusters of) spurs and up to 3 cm leafless branchlets with short internodes, down to the trunk; peduncle 0.5-2(-3.5) cm long; peduncular bracts 1-3, 0.5-1 mm long; receptacle (sub)globose, 0.5-1.3(-2) cm diam. when dry, 1.5-2(-3) cm diam. when fresh, (sparsely) hispidulous or subhispid, the rigid hairs with swollen bases, or puberulous as well, ± scabrous (or smooth), (usually) with few 0.5-1 mm long lateral bracts, yellow or red or purple at maturity, apex ± convex, ostiole 1-1.5 mm diam., surrounded by a low to high rim; internal hairs minute, few or absent. Tepals whitish to reddish, (sparsely) hairy at the apices or glabrous. Styles glabrous.
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A fig. It is a shrubby tree up to 4 m tall. The bark is grey, flaky and scaly. The young leaf parts have grey hairs underneath them. The leafy twigs are reddish brown. The leaves are produced opposite one another. The leaf is rough to the touch. The edges of the leaves are wavy and slightly toothed. The tip of the leaf is pointed and the base is wedge shaped. There is a gland at the base of the leaf veins. Fruit are produced in clusters on the leafless stems. They are red to purple when ripe. Ficus copiosa and Ficus wassa are very similar. Ficus wassa is usually smaller and has darker bark. Ficus copiosa has larger more angular leaves and the figs are normally less red and more green and on longer stalks. The fruit of Ficus wassa are smaller and harder.
A tropical plant. It occurs in areas of re-growth. In Papua New Guinea it grows in lowland areas and up to 1,300 m altitude or higher. In PNG it has been recorded to 2,500 m. In Solomon Islands it grows up to 1,400 m altitude. In Vanuatu it grows up to 800 m altitude.
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A forest species, generally preferring open places, at elevations from sea-level to 2,000 metres, occasionally to 2,600 metres. Often found in areas of secondary regrowth in New Guinea.
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