Like any true Ficus, this tree is in the Moraceae family. Commonly called the chalate tree, it is native to the rainforests of Mexico and South America. This ficus starts its life as a vine and often wraps itself around a nearby tree, eventually strangling the tree. Like most figs, the fruit is edible but is not very palatable to humans. It is, however, a favorite of peccaries. Tribes in Brazil also believe that consuming the leaves can enhance memory. The U of A campus only has one of these trees.
