Dye fig

Also known as Humped Fig, Pacific Dye Fig

Dye figs begin life high in the canopy of host trees, sending down aerial roots that gradually envelop the host and form a sturdy self-supporting trunk over time. Their small, asymmetrical fruits ripen from green to yellowish or dark red and serve as a crucial food source for tropical birds and fruit bats. Historical Pacific island communities famously processed the sap and fruit juice to produce a vivid red dye for traditional textiles.