Ficus tsjakela Burm. f.

 

Family: Moraceae

Synonym: Ficus caulobotrya (Miq.) Miq. 

Vernacular name: Aal, Chela, Kara, Karaal, Karal

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Moist deciduous forests; often epiphytic and later becoming independent

Distribution : Peninsular India and Sri Lanka

Flowering and Fruiting: March-April

Key identification features: Deciduous trees, which can grow up to 15m high, have a distinctive appearance with their dark brown, rough bark and red, fibrous blaze. The leaves are simple, arranged in an alternate spiral pattern. The lamina is oblong or ovate-oblong, featuring a glossy upper surface. Inflorescence is a syconium. Male flowers being few and near the receptacle’s mouth. The syconium itself is yellowish-white.

Uses: Used in tropical forest restoration