Ficus burkei
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Francelle van Zyl
The smooth upper Ficus burkei branches may assume unusual colour given the light, and the shenanigans of cell phone photography. Bark colour may range from pale to dark grey, grey brown or even khaki. Stem smoothness remains on older trees.
The plant parts exude a milky latex, common in figs. The latex is only mildly toxic, causing skin irritation.
The wood is whitish to light in appearance, similar to pine. It is susceptible to borers (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).