Ficus deltoidea Jack, Mal. Misc. 2 (1822)

Synonyms
Erythrogyne lutescens (Desf.) Vis. ex Gasp.
Ficus deltoidea var. angustifolia (Miq.) Corner
Ficus deltoidea forma angustissima Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. arenaria Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. bilobata Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. borneensis Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. kunstleri (King) Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. lutescens (Desf.) Corner
Ficus deltoidea forma longipedunculata Corner
Ficus deltoidea forma subsessilis (Miq.) Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. motleyana Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. oligoneura (Miq.) Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. peltata Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. recurvata Kochummen
Ficus deltoidea forma subhirsuta Corner
Ficus deltoidea var. trengganuensis Corner
Ficus diversifolia Blume
Ficus diversifolia var. deltoidea (Jack) Ridl.
Ficus diversifolia var. kunstleri King
Ficus diversifolia var. latissima Miq.
Ficus diversifolia var. lutescens (Desf.) King
Ficus diversifolia var. ovoidea (Jack) King
Ficus diversifolia var. subsessilis Miq.
Ficus landonii Symington
Ficus lutescens Desf.
Ficus motleyana Miq.
Ficus oligoneura (Miq.) Miq.
Ficus ovoidea Jack
Ficus ovoidea var. lutescens (Desf.) Kuntze
Ficus retusa var. ovoidea (Jack) Miq.
Ficus sideroxylifolia Griff.
Ficus spathulata Miq.
Ficus viscifolia Kunth & C.D.Bouch¨¦
Synoecia diversifolia (Blume) Miq.
Synoecia diversifolia forma angustifolia Miq.
Synoecia diversifolia var. angustifolia (Miq.) Miq.
Synoecia grandifolia Kurz
Urostigma oligoneuron Miq.
Urostigma ovoidum (Jack) Miq.

Diagnostics
Understorey tree up to 14 m tall and 26 cm dbh. Stem with white sap. Stipules ca. 7 mm long, glabrous. Leaves alternate, simple, penni- to bipli- to tripli-veined, glabrous, leaf shape variable but usually triangular, narrowing towards the leaf base. Fruits ca. 7 mm diameter, yellow-orange-red, globose, fleshy figs, placed along the twigs on short stalks.

Description
Dioecious shrub, small tree or epiphyte, up to 14 m tall. Twigs up to 0.2 cm thick. Stipules lanceolate, 0.15-1.5 cm long, caducous. Leaves spirally arranged, thin- to thick-coriaceous, glabrous; deltoid, elliptic, obovate, or spathulate or rhomboid, 2-16.5 x 1.5-10 cm, base tapered or cuneate, margin entire or lobed, revolute or plane, apex rounded, notched, obtuse or acute; midrib usually forked near the middle and with a gland in the fork or not forked but with a gland in the axils of basal lateral veins below, raised, flat or sunken above; lateral veins up to 10 pairs, curving and joining near the leaf margin, distinct or sometimes indistinct below, faint above; intercostal venation reticulate, equally prominent as the lateral veins or not prominent or indistinct on both surfaces; petiole 0.2-3 cm long. Syconia in pairs or solitary, axillary, ripening yellow or red, oblong, globose or ellipsoid, 0.3-2 x 0.2-1.2 cm, strongly umbonate at apex, glabrous or hairy; peduncle 0.3-1.5 cm long or syconia almost sessile; basal bracts 3, c. 1 mm long, persistent; internal bristles few, short. Tepals 3-4, red, glabrous, ovate to lanceolate, free. Achenes oblong to kidney-shaped, 3-5 x 2 mm, with few faint lines or smooth. [from Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak]

Ecology
In undisturbed to slightly disturbed (open) mixed dipterocarp, keranga, coastal, (peat)-swamp and sub-montane forests up to 3200 m altitude. Often along rivers and forest edges and in alluvial sites, but also on ridges. On sandy to limestone soils, but also on clay.

Uses
In South Kalimantan, it is reported to be an effective remedy against leucorrhoea. As it promotes contraction of the vagina it is also considered an aphrodisiac. The latex may have been applied as fish poison. In Thailand it is used as an ornamental. Various selections are commercially grown as pot plant in temperate regions. A reputed traditional medicine. A decoction of leaves is taken after childbirth as a tonic drink.

Distribution
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Moluccas. Introduced in India, Pakistan and Indochina.

Local names
Borneo: Ara, Bimbilang, Kara, Kayu menupang, Lunok.
English: Rusty-leaved bush fig, mistletoe fig.
Indonesia: tabat barito (general).
Malaysia: ara burong, ara jelateh, ara tanah (Peninsular).