Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Genus:
Species:
gigas
ID:
655097

Status:
valid

Authors:
Schweinf. ex Balf.f.

Source:
cmp

Year:
1883

Citation Micro:
Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 12: 95 (1883)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000654429

Common Names

  • Giant Dorstenia
  • Giant Fig
  • Giant Elephant Fig

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Description

Dorstenia gigas (also called African Breadfruit, among many other common names) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 10 m tall. It is native to tropical Africa and is found in lowland rainforests, coastal forests and riverine forests. The leaves are simple, ovate or elliptic-ovate, and the flowers are yellowish-green.

Uses & Benefits

Dorstenia gigas is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a medicinal plant to treat skin diseases, sore throat, and fever.

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

The flower of Dorstenia gigas is a white, star-shaped flower with five petals. The seeds are small, black and round. The seedlings are small and have a single, oval-shaped leaf.

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Cultivation and Propagation

Dorstenia gigas is a tropical plant native to South America. It is an evergreen perennial that grows in moist, shady areas. It can be propagated by division or by seed. The seeds should be sown in a well-drained, moist soil and kept warm and moist until germination. Once the seedlings have established, they can be transplanted into larger containers or into the garden. The plant prefers a well-drained, slightly acidic soil and should be kept in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.

Where to Find Dorstenia gigas

Dorstenia gigas is native to Angola, and can be found in dry, rocky areas.

Dorstenia gigas FAQ

What type of soil is best for Dorstenia gigas?

Dorstenia gigas prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

How much light does Dorstenia gigas need?

Dorstenia gigas prefers bright, indirect light.

How often should Dorstenia gigas be watered?

Dorstenia gigas should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry.

Species in the Dorstenia genus

Dorstenia caatingae, Dorstenia lavrani, Dorstenia africana, Dorstenia afromontana, Dorstenia albertii, Dorstenia annua, Dorstenia appendiculata, Dorstenia arifolia, Dorstenia aristeguietae, Dorstenia astyanactis, Dorstenia bahiensis, Dorstenia barnimiana, Dorstenia barteri, Dorstenia belizensis, Dorstenia benguellensis, Dorstenia bergiana, Dorstenia bicaudata, Dorstenia bonijesu, Dorstenia bowmanniana, Dorstenia brasiliensis, Dorstenia brevipetiolata, Dorstenia brownii, Dorstenia buchananii, Dorstenia caimitensis, Dorstenia carautae, Dorstenia cayapia, Dorstenia choconiana, Dorstenia ciliata, Dorstenia colombiana, Dorstenia conceptionis, Dorstenia contensis, Dorstenia contrajerva, Dorstenia convexa, Dorstenia crenulata, Dorstenia cuspidata, Dorstenia dinklagei, Dorstenia dionga, Dorstenia djettii, Dorstenia dorstenioides, Dorstenia drakena, Dorstenia elata, Dorstenia ellenbeckiana, Dorstenia elliptica, Dorstenia embergeri, Dorstenia erythrantha, Dorstenia excentrica, Dorstenia fawcettii, Dorstenia flagellifera, Dorstenia foetida, Dorstenia gigas,

Species in the Moraceae family

Allaeanthus greveanus, Allaeanthus kurzii, Allaeanthus luzonicus, Allaeanthus zeylanicus, Antiaris toxicaria, Antiaropsis decipiens, Antiaropsis uniflora, Artocarpus albobrunneus, Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus altissimus, Artocarpus anisophyllus, Artocarpus annulatus, Artocarpus avatifolius, Artocarpus blancoi, Artocarpus brevipedunculatus, Artocarpus camansi, Artocarpus chama, Artocarpus corneri, Artocarpus elasticus, Artocarpus excelsus, Artocarpus fulvicortex, Artocarpus glaucus, Artocarpus gomezianus, Artocarpus gongshanensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsutus, Artocarpus hispidus, Artocarpus horridus, Artocarpus hypargyreus, Artocarpus integer, Artocarpus jarrettiae, Artocarpus kemando, Artocarpus lacucha, Artocarpus lanceifolius, Artocarpus longifolius, Artocarpus lowii, Artocarpus mariannensis, Artocarpus multifidus, Artocarpus nanchuanensis, Artocarpus nigrifolius, Artocarpus nitidus, Artocarpus nobilis, Artocarpus obtusus, Artocarpus odoratissimus, Artocarpus palembanicus, Artocarpus petelotii, Artocarpus pinnatisectus, Artocarpus pithecogallus, Artocarpus primackii, Artocarpus reticulatus,

References

The Plant List v1.1 record kew-2775681: Based on the initial data import
Georg August Schweinfurth (1836-1925): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Schweinf.' in the authors string.
Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853-1922): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Balf.f.' in the authors string.