Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Medicine - A decoction of the aerial rootlets is used to heal wounds. Food - The very young leaf tips, harvested before the leaves have expanded, are eaten as a salad. Eco-restoration - It has environmental uses, purifying air, hence used as an indoor plant.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal
It grows primarily in the warm and humid rainforests.
A source of natural latex and a popular choice for house plant.
Grows as a tree in its natural habitat, but typically maintained as a houseplant where it can reach heights of 0.6-3 m.
It has an upright, smooth stem with a light brown surface that thickens with age. Aerial roots, a distinctive feature, may emerge and climb in its natural habitat. As leaves grow and fall, faint scars whisper the plant's history on its vertical form.
Leaves are large, thick, and glossy, with a leathery texture. They can grow up to 30 cm long and 10 cm wide. Young leaves may emerge with a reddish tinge.
The flowers are tiny and greenish-yellow, tucked away discreetly within a fleshy structure. Even if they appear, they wouldn't be noticed on a typical houseplant. A special wasp, usually absent indoors, is needed for pollination.
A tiny, fleshy fruit.
Flowering: April-July