Characteristics of the Real Ficus retusa Tree

Admin | Posted on 25 June 2023 |

Ficus retusa is an evergreen tree species in the genus Moraceae, which is native to the Malay Archipelago. However, this tree is almost never exposed to the media because it only grows in certain locations.

Indonesian people call it Ara Jejawi or Gambiran. There are no local nurseries yet that cultivate Ficus retusa commercially, given its rare tree in the wild.

Ficus retusa tree has been widely confused with the Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa), but these are two very different species. The difference can be seen clearly in the length of the leaves.

Ficus retusa has leaves 15-20 cm long, and Ficus microcarpa less than 10 cm (very rarely those longer than 12 cm). In addition, the leaves of Ficus retusa are very thick and stiff, and also have blunt leaf tips.

To this day, there are still many people who are wrong and think that Ficus retusa is Ficus Ginseng (Ficus microcarpa var.). Many plant nurseries, bonsai enthusiasts, and online plant discussion forums use the name Ficus retusa to refer to other types of Ficus that are not real Ficus retusa.

If you are curious about the differences, you can read my article entitled Difference between Ficus retusa and Ficus microcarpa.

Apart from its Latin name Ficus retusa, this tree also has other synonymous botanical names. The following include:

Ficus truncata
Perula retusa
Urostigma littorale
Urostigma ovoideum
Urostigma pisiferum
Urostigma retusum
Urostigma truncatum

In foreign countries, it is known as Broadleaf Strangler Fig or Retuse Fig and includes a hemiepiphyte tree whose seeds can germinate on other tree trunks and then release wind roots that extend to touch the ground and absorb nutrients from their wind roots that have touched the ground.

Apart from being able to grow on other trees, it can also grow in various places such as between walls, roofs of buildings, and corners of roads.

Characteristics of Ara Jejawi Leaves

Ficus retusa Leaves — Photo source: Sogellizer on Ficus Clinic Indonesia Facebook Group

The leaves are thick, glossy green above and light green to silver below, about 5-7 cm wide and 10-20 cm long.
The leaves are easy to spot because of their semicircular tips.

The Betawi people in Depok and Jakarta use the young leaves of Ficus retusa as boiled vegetables.

Characteristics of Ara Jejawi Fruit

Ficus retusa Fruit — Photo source: Sogellizer on Ficus Clinic Indonesia Facebook Group

As in other species of the Ficus genus, the fruit is berry-shaped and appears at the tips of twigs. Initially green, then turns orange and brown when ripe.

Characteristics of Ara Jejawi Tree

Ficus retusa Tree — Photo source: Sogellizer on Ficus Clinic Indonesia Facebook Group

The ara jejawi tree can grow in the form of a shrub or a large tree with a wide crown. In the wild, this tree can reach a height of 15-20 meters with a trunk up to 2 meters in diameter and many aerial roots twine around the main trunk to help support the crown.

The bark varies depending on where it grows and its age, is generally bright gray when the tree is young and as the tree matures it turns black and oozes a milky white sap when injured.

This tree is not recommended to be planted directly in the ground in the yard of the house, next to the building, or on the side of the road because it grows very fast and its roots can damage everything around it.