Ficus consociata Blume, Bijdr. (1825)

Synonyms
Ficus consociata var. murtonii King
Urostigma consociatum (Blume) Miq.

Diagnostics
Mid-canopy tree (strangler fig) up to 38 m tall and 31 cm dbh. Stem with white sap. Stipules ca. 15 mm long, hairy. Leaves alternate, simple, penni- to tripli-veined, venation conspicuous, glabrous to hairy below. Fruits ca. 11 mm diameter, yellow-reddish, globose, fleshy figs placed along the twigs.

Description
A strangling fig that grows as a shrub without host tree. According to Corner, it is rarely large and "seldom standing without its host". Leaves stiff and leathery (7-27cm long), broad, oval with rounded or slightly pointed tip, base tapered or slightly heart-shaped, and 5-10 pairs of conspicuous veins. Young leaves and twigs have dense brown hair which makes them feel woolly. Mature leaves have fine brown scrufy hair on the underside. The figs are small (1-1.5cm) covered with brown hairs and have a characteristic circle of pink around the opening (ostiole). They ripen orange-red, and appear in pairs in the leaf axils. According to Corner, the plant only produces its first crop of figs when it is 8-9 years old. [from Wild Singapore]

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, (peat)-swamp, coastal and sub-montane forests up to 800 m altitude. On alluvial sites (swamps) but also common on ridges and hillsides. Usually on sandy soils.

Distribution
Burma, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.

Uses
According to Burkill, like the India-rubber tree (Ficus elastica), it also produces a latex that was used as rubber. Unfortunately, the latex of this fig also contains a resin that hardens with time thus making the latex less elastic.

Local names
Borneo: Arah, Kara, Kayu ala, Kayu ara, Kopoh, Lunok.