Ficus is a pan-tropical genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. Ficus occupies a wide variety of ecological niches; most are evergreen, but some deciduous species are endemic to areas outside of the tropics and to higher elevations. Fig species are characterized by their unique inflorescence and distinctive pollination syndrome, which utilizes wasp species belonging to the Agaonidae family for pollination. The fruit of most species are edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife. Figs are also of considerable cultural importance throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many practical uses.

Ficus stuhlmannii, synonymously known as Ficus dar-es-salaamii or Ficus howardiana and commonly known as Laeveld-vy, Wildevy, Wildevye, Wildevyeboom or Wurgwildevy in Afrikaans and Lowveld Fig or Stuhlmann’s Wild Fig in English, is a South African indigenous deciduous tree found in the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces ranging from East tropical Africa – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, southeastern DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and northern South Africa. Ficus stuhlmannii is a deciduous tree with a dense, well-formed crown; it can grow 10 – 15 meters tall. The plant often begins life as an epiphyte, growing in the branch of another tree; as it grows older it sends down aerial roots which, when they reach the ground quickly form roots and become much thicker and more vigorous. They supply nutrients to the fig, allowing it to grow faster than the host tree. The aerial roots gradually encircle the host tree, preventing its main trunk from expanding, whilst at the same time the foliage smothers the foliage of the host. Eventually the host dies, leaving the fig to carry on growing without competition. The edible fruit is often gathered from the wild for local use. Although not usually cultivated, the tree is often protected by local people to safeguard their crop of fruit.