Ficus dammaropsis
Taxonomy: Ficus dammaropsis (Moraceae) Alternative Botanical Name: Dammaropsis kingiana Common Names: Dinner Plate Fig Highland Breadfruit Description: Ficus dammaropsis is an unusual fig with very large leaves that can grow 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. Like all the species of this genus, Diner Plate Fig produces a multiple fruit call a syconium. Inside the syconium there are fleshy cavities that contain unisexual male and female flowers. The male flower produce pollen and the female flowers produce seeds. The female flowers of this species are pollinated only by the wasp Ceratosolen abnormis. Geographic Distribution: Ficus dammaropsisthe is a native of the rain forests of New Guinea. Food Uses: The fruit and young leaves of which are eaten in the Papua New Guinea highlands. Indigenous people of New Guinea use the large leaves for wrapping pork meat and for lining the cooking ovens. The bark is used in making string and head coverings.