SPECIES DIVERSITY OF EDIBLE FIGS IN THAILAND

Abstract

The survey of edible figs was carried out at the local markets in various part of Thailand. There were 17 species and 2 varieties of edible figs, of which 2 species were exotic figs. The edible figs found in the present study can be classified to 12 small trees species 3 medium trees species, and 3 shrub species. Ten fig species were eaten as vegetable, 4 species as fresh vegetable and fruit, 1 species as fruit, 1 species as cooked or preserved vegetable and 1 species as health beverage. Tree part used to eat was young syconium, followed by mature syconium, young leaf and mature leaf. Ficus racemosa was the only edible fig that all parts syconiums and Ieaves were used. Ficus superba var. japonica was the most expensive vegetable.