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What is the difference between Ficus hispida and Ficus microcarpa? A quick guide to telling the two plants apart

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Leaf differences: Ficus hispida leaves are opposite, thickly papery, and ovate-oblong; Ficus microcarpa leaves are thinly leathery, dark green, and narrowly elliptic. Fruit differences: Ficus hispida figs are axillary, top-shaped, and yellow when ripe; Ficus microcarpa figs grow in pairs in the leaf axils, are yellow or slightly red, and are flattened spheres.

1. Leaf differences

Ficus hispida leaves are usually opposite, thickly papery, and ovate-oblong, 10 to 25 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide. The leaf margins are entire or bluntly toothed, the tips are acute or have a short point, and the bases are rounded or nearly wedge-shaped. The upper surface is rough, the underside bears gray rough hairs, and the petioles are 1 to 4 cm long.

Ficus microcarpa leaves are thinly leathery and narrowly elliptic, 4 to 8 cm long and 3 to 4 cm wide, with bluntly pointed tips and wedge-shaped bases. The upper surface is dark green, the margins are entire, and the surface is glossy.

2. Fruit differences

Ficus hispida figs grow in the leaf axils, on leafless branches, or on vertical shoots emerging from old stems. They are top-shaped and yellow when ripe, 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter, scattered with lateral bracts and coarse hairs.

Ficus microcarpa figs grow in pairs in the leaf axils or in the axils of fallen leaves, are yellow or slightly red, and are flattened spheres 6 to 8 mm in diameter.

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