Seeds of the Ficus religiosa tree

Common name: Fig Tree - Lisan Al-‘Asfour Scientific name: Ficus religiosa Among its names: Lisan Al-Tair (Bird's Tongue) Lisan Al-‘Asfour is a beautiful, large, upright-growing plant, with semi-deciduous leaves. It reaches a height of about 20 meters and a width of about 10 meters. The trunk makes up a large part of the tree's volume and can reach a diameter of about 3 meters. The hanging, distinctive, dark green leaves have an attractive tapering tip, resembling a bird's tongue, hence the name Lisan Al-‘Asfour in Arabic. The leaf length is 15 cm, oval-shaped, and its width is 12 cm. The new leaves are pink. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour flower: The flowers are green, inconspicuous, appear in spring, and are about 0.3 cm in size. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour fruit and seeds: The fruits are sessile, turn purple when ripe, and are about 1 cm in size. They are not edible. The seeds are small and brown. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour propagation season: This tree is propagated by stem cuttings during March and April, as well as by seeds and air layering in winter. It can also be cultivated year-round in agricultural protected areas, enclosed or plastic places where temperature can be controlled, sunlight is accessible, or where adequate lighting for the plant exists. Suitable climate and soil for cultivating Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: The plant prefers sunny locations, deep, fertile, slightly alkaline soil. The tree requires regular watering but does not tolerate waterlogging. It can tolerate moderate salinity and frost. Method of cultivating Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: Propagation is through seeds, hardwood stem cuttings, or air layering at a depth of 1 to 3 cm. It should be fertilized with organic fertilizer at least once. Its benefits and uses: Lisan Al-‘Asfour can be used as a distinctive plant specimen in parks and large gardens. It is also suitable as a shade tree along roads and can be planted in open urban areas, wherever there is space, in wide street islands. It is not recommended to plant it near buildings or in narrow spaces due to its large size and strong root expansion. Original habitat of Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: India, and it is widespread in hot countries like South Africa. It is also cultivated in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries as it is a plant that adapts to hot climates.