Editing Ficus sur

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Broom cluster fig (''Ficus sur'')
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Ficus sur''
|-
! Common names
| Broom cluster fig; Cape fig
|-
! Genus
| [[Ficus]]
|-
! Family
| [[Moraceae]]
|-
! Order
| [[Rosales]]
|-
! Growth habit
| Large, fast-growing evergreen tree; up to about 35 m
|-
! Native range
| Africa to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula
|-
! Habitat
| Riverine and drier woodland in a seasonally dry tropical biome
|-
! Fruit
| Pinkish, soft figs in large clusters on trunks and roots
|-
! Fruiting season
| September–March in South Africa
|}

''Ficus sur'', the broom cluster fig or Cape fig, is a large African fig associated with riverine and drier woodland in seasonally dry tropical regions. Kew accepts the name ''Ficus sur'' and lists ''Ficus capensis'' among its synonyms; an exact GBIF match also places the accepted species in the genus ''Ficus'' and family Moraceae.<sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Description ==

This is a large, fast-growing evergreen tree that can reach about 35 m. Its figs are produced in large clusters on the trunk and roots, a cauliflorous habit that makes fruiting plants conspicuous even when the canopy is high. The species occurs in riverine settings as well as drier woodland, so local moisture and seasonal growth should be considered when choosing a site.<sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>

The native range extends from Africa to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. Kew places the species primarily in a seasonally dry tropical biome. A full-sized tree needs substantial clearance from buildings, paving, drains and other services because SANBI describes its root system as aggressive.<sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

SANBI places ''Ficus sur'' in riverine and drier woodland and recommends plenty of water in cultivation. Plant it where the root system has ample room and where irrigation can support establishment and active growth; a fixed watering schedule is not supported by the species account. The contrasting native settings do not justify treating either permanently wet soil or severe drought as a universal requirement.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

For landscape planting, keep the tree well away from structures and underground services. Its eventual size and aggressive roots make a confined courtyard or a small permanent container a poor long-term site, even though a young plant can be managed temporarily in a pot.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

Full sun is the best documented exposure for established plants. SANBI notes that young trees tolerate partial shade, so a juvenile can be protected from harsh exposure while it establishes before being moved toward stronger light. The account describes frost-free, moderate-rainfall conditions, recommends protecting young trees from light frost, and describes the species as intolerant of moderate to severe frost; it does not establish a minimum temperature or a universal hardiness zone.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

The same species account describes ''Ficus sur'' as fast growing, with growth of about 1 m or more after the second year under its documented conditions. That figure is a regional account value rather than a guaranteed rate for every provenance or climate.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

Kew places the species in a seasonally dry tropical biome. In South Africa, SANBI gives September–March as the main fig-producing period. That calendar is regional rather than a rule for every provenance, so irrigation should follow local rainfall, temperature and active growth rather than a copied month-by-month schedule. Maintain dependable moisture while a newly planted tree is establishing and while active growth and fruiting increase demand, then reassess as the local dry season develops.<sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Propagation ==

SANBI describes a simple seed procedure: clean seed from the fruit, sow it on a fine growing medium without covering it, and transplant seedlings once they are a few centimetres high. This is a practical species-account method, not a measured germination trial; no germination percentage or seed-storage interval is established here. Handle the young seedlings carefully during transplanting and keep them supplied with moisture while they establish.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

The same account also describes spring propagation from cuttings or truncheons rooted in sharp sand. It gives no rooting percentage, cutting dimensions or comparison with seed, so those details should not be treated as a tested ranking of methods.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

Large trees are difficult to move: SANBI reports that successful transplantation requires severe pruning and that the resulting scars remain. This is a species-account limitation on moving established specimens, not a quantified root-pruning protocol; selecting the permanent site before the tree becomes large is the safer planning assumption.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

The figs develop in large clusters on the trunk and roots. In South Africa, SANBI places the main production period from September to March. Ripe fruit is described as pinkish and soft. The timing and appearance are useful regional guides, but they should not be treated as fixed harvest criteria for every climate or tree.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

''Ficus sur'' follows the general fig pattern of wasp-associated pollination and asynchronous flowering described for ''Ficus''.<sup id="cite_ref-4">[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup> For cultivation, this is genus-level context rather than a documented species-wide pollination requirement.

== Fruit and uses ==

SANBI describes the soft, pinkish figs as locally eaten and used for jam. That account documents regional human use rather than a universal flavor or quality assessment. Fruit quality, insect damage and palatability can vary among trees and sites, so ripe fruit from an identified plant should be evaluated before planning a harvest or preserving it.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

The tree's large size, trunk-and-root fruiting habit and evergreen canopy make it a specimen for spacious frost-free landscapes rather than a small-garden fruit tree. Young plants may be kept in containers during establishment, but the eventual root system and mature height should determine the permanent planting decision.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== References ==

* <span id="cite_note-1"></span>[[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:853792-1 ''Ficus sur'' | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science].

* <span id="cite_note-2"></span>[[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Ficus%20sur ''Ficus sur'' | GBIF species match].

* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://pza.sanbi.org/ficus-sur ''Ficus sur'' | PlantZAfrica].

* <span id="cite_note-4"></span>[[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ficus+sur ''Ficus sur'' | Useful Tropical Plants].