Gen info
- Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. The are collectively known as fig trees or figs.
- The species epithet annulata derives from Latin, meaning "circular ring", probably referring to the socket where the thick stalk (peduncle) slots into the top of the fig. Alternatively, it may refer to the conspicuously ringed stout twigs. (3)

Botany
• Trees, large, epiphytic when young and semi-climbing. Stipules caducous, lanceolate-linear, 2.5-6 cm, pubescent. Petiole 3-4 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 13-28 × 5-8 cm, ± leathery, abaxially pale green and glabrous or sparsely pubescent, adaxially dark green and glabrous, base cuneate to rarely ± rounded, margin entire, apex shortly acuminate; basal lateral veins 2, short, secondary veins 12-17 on each side of midvein, abaxially conspicuous. Figs axillary on leafy branchlets, paired, reddish orange with scattered white spots when mature, ovoid to cylindric, 2-2.5 × 1.5-2 cm, tuberculate, apical pore navel-like; peduncle robust, 1-1.5 cm; involucral bracts caducous, ovate, apex acute, scar conspicuous. Male, gall, and female flowers within same fig. Male flowers: scattered, pedicellate; stamen 1. Gall flowers: many; sepals connate, apex 3-lobed; ovary ovoid, smooth; stigma flat. Female flowers: few; calyx 4-lobed; style long; stigma clavate. Achenes tuberculate. (Flora of China)

• Frequently confused with F. depressa and F. globosa, the only other large section Conosycea lianas in which the figs ripen green/yellow and are dispersed by bats. The three species are obviously closely related and hybrids might occur.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In Balabac, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Surigao, Palawan. In lowland streamside forests. (2)
- Also native to Andaman Is., Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam (1)

Constituents
- Study of leaves of Ficus annulata isolated a new sterol, ficusterol. (see study below) (4)

Properties
- Study suggested immunomodulatory, xanthine oxidase inhibitory properties.

Parts used
Leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- Leaves are edible; cooked and eaten as vegetable.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Others
- Latex: Plant yields latex; a source of high quality rubber.

Studies
• Immunomodulatory / Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory / Leaves: In a study of plants of the genus Ficus, the methanol extract of leaves of F. annulata and stems of F. aurantiaca and F. parietalis showed strong immunomodulatory, xanthine oxidase, and soybean lipoxygenase inhibitory activities. A new sterol, ficusterol, was isolated from the leaves of F. annulata. (4)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Ficus annulata / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Ficus annulata / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Ficus annulata / Uluulublog / The Figs of Borneo
(4)
Phytochemical study of selected ficus species (moraceae) and immunomodulatory, xanthine oxidase, soybean lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of their isolated compounds /  Shukranul Mawa / Dissertation: 2016 / UKM Learning and Research Repository / Fakulti Farmasi
(5)
Ficus annulata / Ken Fern: Tropical Plants Database / Useful Tropical Plants

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)