54 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



Genus FICUS 

 FICUS BENJAMINA Linn. Balete.* 



Local names: Anunga (Isabela) ; balete (Ilocos Norte, Abra, Pangasinan, 

 Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, Manila, Cavite, Laguna Camarines) ; 

 baleteon (Nueva Vizcaya) ; balete-jmld (Tagalog) ; haliting-ihon (Batan- 

 gas) ; gisi (Ibanag and Sub-province of Apayao) ; kolis (Bataan) ; kidimyiot 

 (Negrito, Bataan) ; salisi (Nueva Vizcaya) ; tibi (Camarines) ; sirisin 

 (Cagayan). 



The strips of bast of this species are salmon-buff; some are 

 soft and pliable, others hard and stiff. Rope made from the 

 bast possesses a fair degree of tenacity. King found it to have 

 a tensile strength of 480 kilos per square centimeter. Wetting 

 reduced the strength only 2 per cent. 



Ficus benjamhui is a strangling fig with smooth, leathery 

 leaves. The leaves are alternate, somewhat oval, 8 to 15 centi- 

 meters long, pointed at the tip, and rounded at the base. The figs 

 occur singly in the axils of the leaves, are dark purple, and about 

 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter. 



This species is common and widely distibuted at low altitudes, 

 from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao. 



FICUS FORSTENII Miq. BaletE. 



Local names: Balete (Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Mindoro, Moro) ; basakld 

 (Iloko, Abra) ; daldkit (Negros) ; langaban (Moro, Cotabato) ; puos (Itneg) 

 puspus (Iloko, Abra). 



The bast is ochraceous salmon. A very weak rope is made 

 from it. King found the rope to have a tensile strength of only 

 154 kilos per square centimeter. Immersion in water for 

 twenty-four hours increased the strength 44 per cent. 



Ficus forstenii is a strangling fig with leathery leaves. It 

 reaches a height of about 30 meters. The leaves are alternate, 

 smooth, pointed at the apex, rounded at the base, wider near the 

 apex than near the base, and from 7 to 17 centimeters in length. 

 The figs are yellow and about 2 centimeters in diameter. 



This species is distributed from northern Luzon to southern 

 Mindanao. 



FICUS PACHYPHYLLA Merr. Balete. 



Local names: Balite (Laguna); lunug (Occidental Negros); pasakld 

 (Abra, Itneg). 



Strips of bast of this fig are colored a uniform pecan brown. 

 Rope made from it is said to be very durable and is fairly strong. 



* Balete or baliti is a broadly generic term used in a number of the 

 Philippine languages for all the "strangling figs" of the genus Ficus and 

 very rarely, if ever, used for any other epiphytic or climbing plants. 



