Fauna
Plant

Dye Fig

Ficus tinctoria

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.

TreeHemiepiphyticTropical
Dye Fig reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • Fruit bats
  • Hornbills
  • Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat loss, deforestation
HabitatsTropical rainforests, coastal forests, limestone hills
Life span50–150 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMoraceae
  2. SpeciesFicus tinctoria
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild fruits have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Examining roots: Look for roots fusing around host trees in tropical forests.
  • Identifying fruits: Search for small, asymmetrical figs growing near leaf bases.
Related species
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