FICUS, a geuus of plants belonging to the natural order Urticacem. The number of species is great, and they are all either tropical or inhabitants of warm countries. Some aro small plants, others are among the largest trees of the forest ; others of them yield a useful caoutchouc ; seveml of them yield fibrous materials used for cordage, for half stuff and papermaking ; and tho banyan tree and the pipal tree, F. Indica and F. religiosa, are highly ornamental plants. Several throw out aerial roots from their branches, which grow into the grouud, and again throw out branches. F. carica, tho fig tree, is cultivated in many parts of India. F. Benjaminoides, the Tenasserim banyan tree, drops aerial roots like the Indian fig tree, grows amidst mangroves and near tidal streams. The root of F. excelsa, Vahl., of Peninsular India and tho Moluccas is given in decoction as a pur gative. A soft grey timber is obtained from the F. gooleeria, Roxb., which grows in Hindustan and Chutia Nagpur. F. heterophylla, Rozb., Wal-ahatoo, SINGH., is common in Ceylon in damp shady places. F. infectoria, Willde., is of Ceylon and India, and its bark is chewed with betel in lien of the areea nut. F. laceifera, Rozb.,
Nooga-gass, SINGH., is not uncommon in the central province of Ceylon. F. lanceolata, Roxb. Thapan, BGRM., of Pegu, yields a soft, useless wood. F. lueida, Ait., the Kapootoo-bo-gsza of Ceylon, occurs in the drier parts of that island. F. nitida, Thunb., which grows in the south of China and in many parts of India, is a valuable ornamental tree and good for shade. Somo of the species possess in their milky secretion a highly :,crid principle, which explains the specific name t,f F. toxicaria of Sumatra, and F. &mom of Tanjore. One species, KuIli kae, CAN., generally a climber, abounds in Cauara and Sunda, in the country from Bilgy to the Ghats ; its juice peculiarly abundant and viscid, and used as a bird Hine ; well merits a further examination. Another species, Thub-boo, BH1131., a Tavoy tree, is used in house carpentry. A further species, the Bace dhimcree of Ganjam and Gunisur, extreme height 30 feet, is burnt for firewood, being tolerably common ; the leaves are used for food platters ; the fruit is eaten.— Wight ; Gibson ; Captain illacdonald ; Thwaites ; Voigt.