Maxima fig tree

This large tree grows 20 to 35 metres tall. Its straight trunk often develops buttress roots at the base in larger specimens. The bark ranges from pale grey to greyish brown. Smooth when young, it becomes rough and scaly with age. The thick white sap contains latex, a substance known for its elastic properties.

The maxima fig tree (Ficus maxima) has simple, alternate, leathery leaves that are dark green and 10 to 30 centimetres long.

Hundreds of tiny flowers are enclosed within a fleshy structure called a syconium. This hollow, spherical structure has a small opening, known as an ostiole, that allows pollination to take place. The yellowish green syconium turns orange as it ripens. The small seed-like structures embedded in the fleshy fruit are called achenes.