Figs 

            When you think of the Amazon rainforest, towering trees and colorful birds probably come to mind. But one of the forest’s most extraordinary engineers is much less obvious: the fig. Figs (Ficus), a genus in the mulberry family (Moraceae), include over 800 species worldwide (Veberic & Mikulic-Petkovsec, 2016), many of which call the Amazon home.

            What makes figs truly remarkable is their unusual flowering and fruiting system. Unlike most plants, fig flowers grow inside the fruit-like structure we usually call a fig. Tiny fig wasps crawl through small openings to pollinate the flowers while laying their eggs inside. The larvae feed on some of the fig’s seeds before emerging, covered in pollen, ready to pollinate the next fig. This fascinating partnership ensures that figs are fruiting year-round, providing a constant food source for hundreds of fruit-eating animals — from birds and monkeys to bats.

            Because figs fruit throughout the year, they are often the last refuge for hungry animals during dry seasons, when other fruits are scarce. Researchers have documented over 1,200 animal species in the Amazon that rely on figs at least occasionally, making them a critical link in the rainforest’s food web (Shanahan, 2016). In turn, these animals disperse fig seeds across the forest floor, helping new trees grow and keeping the ecosystem thriving.

            One type of fig, the strangler fig, is a rainforest architect. It begins life perched high on another tree as an epiphyte, sending roots down to the forest floor. Over time, it envelops its host tree, which eventually decomposes, leaving a hollow, free-standing fig tree behind. Strangler figs create complex three-dimensional structures in the forest, providing homes and shelter for countless animals, from insects and reptiles to monkeys and birds. These trees are so important that ecologists consider them keystone species — without them, many other species in the forest would struggle to survive.

Figs also show remarkable diversity. Some species are tiny shrubs growing along riverbanks, while others climb hundreds of feet into the canopy. Their fruits vary in size, color, and taste, attracting different animals at different times. This diversity ensures that figs continue to support a wide variety of wildlife year-round, no matter the season or location in the forest.

Beyond their ecological role, figs have cultural and medicinal significance for many Amazonian communities. Their leaves, bark, and latex have been used for traditional remedies, and certain species are woven into local folklore and spiritual practices. The fig, in many ways, is a bridge between humans and the forest — a reminder of how deeply interconnected life in the Amazon truly is.

            In short, figs are more than just a food source — they are engineers, providers, and caretakers of the rainforest. By sustaining animals, shaping forests, and spreading seeds, figs quietly hold the Amazon together. Next time you walk through the forest, pause under a fig tree: you’re standing beneath a lifeline for thousands of creatures, a living testament to the power of cooperation and resilience in nature.

References

Veberic, Robert. Mikulic-Petkovsec, Maja. (2016) Phytochemical Composition of Common Fig (Ficus carica L.) Cultivars Nutritional Composition of Fruit Cultivars

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/ficus

Shanahan, Mike (November 15, 2016) Gods Wasps and Stranglers The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees