Ara Ungu is the nickname of a wide spread liana fig in Sabah. With Ara ungu new leaves start pink or pale red and then mature a dark purple before turning green.
As Ara ungu has not yet been recorded fruiting the true identity was unclear.
Therefore, a temporary nickname of Aru ungu (Purple fig) in Malay) was given to this fig by the staff of the Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre (SFGC) at Tabin in Sabah.
Further evidence indicates that the correct name for Ara ungu is in fact Ficus globosa.
Thanks to Melinda Jen and Dr Zainal of SFGC and Chun Zing Wong of I Stop Borneo Wildlife for photos and information.
