Ficus heterophylla L. fil.

Shrubs, procumbent. Branchlets becoming reddish brown, slender, shortly pubescent. Stipules caducous, short, membranous. Leaves distichous; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, juvenile leaves usually pinnately lobed, (5-)7-10(-14) × (1.5-)2.5-4(-5) cm, papery, coarse with short and stiff hairs, base obtuse, rounded, or cordate, margin toothed or entire, apex slightly acuminate; secondary veins 4-8(-12) on each side of midvein. Figs axillary on leafy or older leafless branches, solitary, yellowish orange and smooth when mature, globose to pear-shaped, 1-2 cm in diam., tuberculate, coarsely hairy, base attenuate into slender stalk, apical pore navel-like, convex; peduncle 4-6 mm, pubescent; involucral bracts triangular, small. Male flowers: near apical pore; pedicellate; calyx deeply 3- or 4-lobed; stamen 1. Gall flowers: pedicellate; calyx lobes 3 or 4; ovary ovoid; style lateral, short; stigma enlarged. Female flowers: pedicellate; calyx lobes 4, white; style persistent, lateral, long; stigma cylindric. Achenes shortly ellipsoid, surface with a transparent membrane. Fl. Jul-Nov.

Guangdong, Hainan, S Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

Moist valleys, along streams; 400-800 m.

Ficus heterophylla var. scabrella (Roxburgh) King; F. scabrella Roxburgh.

Ficus heterophylla is a fig plant species, in the family Moraceae, which can be found in India, southern China, Indo-China and western Malesia. In Vietnam it may be called vú bò.