Ficus seedlings, Lisan Al-Osfor

Common name: Fig Tree - Lisan Al-‘Asfour Scientific name: Ficus religiosa Also known as: 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, which is how it got its name in Arabic. The leaf length is 15 cm, oval-shaped, and 12 cm wide. The new leaves are pink. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour flower: The flowers are green, inconspicuous, appearing in spring, about 0.3 cm in size. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour fruit and seeds: The fruits are sessile, turn purple when ripe, about 1 cm in size, and are not edible. The seeds are small and brown. Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour propagation season: The tree is propagated through stem cuttings during March and April, as well as by seeds and air layering in winter. It can also be cultivated year-round in protected agricultural environments, enclosed or plastic places where temperature can be controlled, and where the plant receives adequate sunlight. Suitable climate and soil for Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: The plant prefers sunny locations, deep, fertile, and slightly alkaline soil. The tree requires regular watering but does not tolerate waterlogging. It can tolerate moderate salinity and frost. Method of cultivation of Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: Propagation is done by seeds, or by stem cuttings with hard wood, or by air layering at a depth of 1 cm to 3 cm. It should be fertilized with organic fertilizer at least once. Uses and benefits: Lisan Al-‘Asfour can be used as a distinctive plant 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 near buildings or in narrow spaces due to its large size and strong root expansion. Original habitat of Ficus - Lisan Al-‘Asfour: India, widespread in hot countries such as South Africa, and cultivated in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries as it is a plant that adapts to hot climates.