fiddle-leaf fig

The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is an African fig tree often cultivated as a houseplant. It belongs to the genus Ficus, which includes about 900 species of trees, shrubs, and vines native primarily to tropical areas.12

Ficus species typically have simple, waxy leaves and many produce a white or yellow latex when broken. They are characterized by a unique pollination system involving fig wasps, which plays a crucial role in tropical forest ecology by providing a consistent food source for animals.2

Other well-known members of the Ficus genus include the common fig (Ficus carica), the banyan (Ficus benghalensis), the Bo tree (Ficus religiosa), and the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).234