Bali Shortcake vs cluster fig

Acropora latistella compared with Ficus racemosa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bali Shortcake	cluster fig
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Cnidaria (Cnidarians)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Anthozoa	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Scleractinia (Scleractinia)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family	Acroporidae	Moraceae
Genus	Acropora	Ficus
Species	Acropora latistella	Ficus racemosa

Conservation Status

Bali Shortcake

LC — Least Concern

cluster fig

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bali Shortcake	cluster fig
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bali Shortcake

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.

cluster fig

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Brazil and Taiwan.

Bali Shortcake

The Bali Shortcake (Acropora latistella) is a species in the genus Acropora. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

cluster fig

Ficus racemosa, commonly called the cluster fig or red river fig, is a large deciduous to semi-evergreen tree in the family Moraceae with a native range spanning tropical Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and extending to northern Australia. Despite records suggesting Brazil and Taiwan, the species is most reliably native to South and Southeast Asia. The cluster fig is famous for its remarkable reproductive strategy: fruits grow directly from the trunk and major branches in dense clusters, a habit known as cauliflory. These figs are critical food resources for a wide array of frugivores including bats, birds, monkeys, and civets, making F. racemosa a keystone species in riparian and moist deciduous forests. Trees can reach 15–30 meters in height and develop buttressed bases when growing along riverbanks and in seasonally flooded areas. Like all figs, Ficus racemosa shares an obligate mutualism with its specific fig wasp pollinator, without which reproduction is impossible. Fruits have long been used in traditional medicine across South Asia to treat various ailments. The tree is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its wide distribution and adaptability, though local populations may face pressure from deforestation and river channelization in its native range.