bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Ficus natalensis is a tree in the family Moraceae. It is commonly known as the natal fig in South Africa. In central and western Uganda, where it has an important cultural value, it is known as omutuba to the Baganda people and omutoma to the Banyakitara peoples. In English is sometimes referred as barkcloth fig. It is commonly mistaken for its cousin the Ficus thonningii also known as mugumo to the Agikuyu. These trees are distributed from north-eastern South Africa to Uganda and Kenya.

Natal fig
figs and foliage
aerial roots
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Genus:	Ficus
Species:	F. natalensis
Binomial name
Ficus natalensis Hochst.

The bark of the tree is harvested, without harming the tree, to make barkcloth, an environmentally-friendly, renewable material. Skilled artisans incorporate this unique fabric into many modern uses, including fashion, accessories, housewares, interior design, and art. The vision is to create sustainable jobs in East Africa by creating a global demand for barkcloth.

Mutuba trees can be harvested annually for up to 40 years, yielding up to 200 m² of cloth individually.

References

• Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.

External links

• Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Ficus natalensis". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.

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