Bodhi tree vs cluster fig

Ficus religiosa compared with Ficus racemosa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bodhi tree	cluster fig
Kingdom same	Plantae (bitki)	Plantae (bitki)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Rosales (Roses & Allies)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family same	Moraceae	Moraceae
Genus same	Ficus	Ficus
Species	Ficus religiosa	Ficus racemosa

Evolutionary Relationship

Bodhi tree and cluster fig share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ficus.

Conservation Status

Bodhi tree

LC — Least Concern

cluster fig

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bodhi tree	cluster fig
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bodhi tree

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 10 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (8 countries), North America (5 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay).

cluster fig

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Brazil and Taiwan.

Bodhi tree

The Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) is a species in the genus Ficus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇹🇼 Taiwan