Pei athi, gobla in Hindi and kakodumbara in Sanskrit, is the hairy fig, a small, fast-growing fig tree of riverbanks and damp clearings. Its rough, hairy leaves grow in opposite pairs, unusual for a fig, and its hairy figs cluster on the trunk and on long, leafless shoots. The figs are cooked as a vegetable in parts of north-east India and South-east Asia. It is not athi, Ficus racemosa, the cluster fig.
- Botanical name
- Ficus hispida L.f.
- Family
- Moraceae
- Tamil
- Pei athi
- Hindi
- Gobla
- Sanskrit
- Kakodumbara
- Parts used
- Ripe figs in some kitchens, Leaf in lists
- Habit
- Hairy fig tree; figs sit on the trunk and old wood
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Pei athi
It is a shrub or small tree with hollow, hairy young shoots and milky latex.
The leaves are large, rough and hairy on both sides, and set in opposite pairs.
The figs are round to pear-shaped, covered in stiff hairs, and turn yellowish when ripe.
They grow in clusters on the trunk, on main branches, and on long, leafless shoots that may trail to the ground.
Cluster fig has smooth, alternate leaves and smooth red figs.
Traditional use of Pei athi
Kitchen
In Assam, Mizoram and Thailand, young figs are cooked as a vegetable or in curries.
North-east Indian and Thai food practice
Ayurveda
Kakodumbara bark and fruit appear in Ayurvedic texts for skin complaints.
Ayurvedic texts
Farming
Its leaves are cut as fodder for cattle and goats.
Indian farm practice
Modern notes on Pei athi
Like all figs it relies on its own pollinating wasp, Ceratosolen solmsi.
It grows quickly in disturbed, wet places and helps start forest regrowth.
Studies on its extracts are mostly laboratory work.
Pei athi safety
Eat the young figs only when cooked, and only where they are a known local food. The latex and hairs can irritate skin.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows from India and Sri Lanka through South-east Asia to northern Australia.
Its figs ripen through much of the year and feed bats, birds and monkeys when other food is scarce.
It is common along streams and at forest edges.
Related plants
Also in Moraceae
Questions about Pei athi
Is hairy fig the same as athi?
No. Athi is Ficus racemosa.
Why do the figs grow on the trunk?
Like several figs, it bears fruit on old wood.
Can the figs be eaten?
Young figs are cooked in some regions.
Why are the leaves rough?
They are covered in stiff hairs.
Which animals eat Pei athi?
Bats, birds and monkeys.
Sources
- Ficus hispida L.f. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3349206 (Ficus hispida)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.