279 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
Genus FICUS 
FICUS BENJAMINA Linn. BALETE.* 
Local names: Anunga (Isabela) ; baléte (Ilocos Norte, Abra, Pangasinan, 
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Camarines) ; 
baletéon (Nueva Vizcaya); baléte-puld (Tagalog); baliting-ibon (Batan- 
gas); gisi (Ibanag and Subprovince of Apayao); kolis (Bataan) ; kuliamot 
(Negrito, Bataan); salisi (Nueva Vizcaya); tibi (Camarines); sirisiu 
(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 benjamina 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 FORSTENI! Mi. BALETE. 
Local names: Baléte (Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Mindoro, Moro) ; basakla 
(lloko, Abra) ; dalakit (Negros) ; lawgaban (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 forsteniw 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); lunig (Occidental Negros); pasakla 
(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 
is very rarely, if ever, used for any other epiphytic or climbing plants. 
