The earth figs shown in the photos are about the size of a large walnut c. 4 cm in diameter.
Earth figs grow on stolons or ground shoots at ground level buried in the leaf litter
The large dark purple fig on the right is a ripe female fig.
The photos show that it is full of tiny seeds surrounded by a clear jelly.
The purpose of the interior jelly is probably to deter parasitic fig wasps.
The orange one on the left is an unripe female fig.
The purpose of the dense sharp hairs covering both figs is probably to deter seed predators such as pheasants and partridges from swallowing the figs whole.
It is believed that ground mammals such as deer and pigs and treeshrews are the most important consumers and dispersers of earth figs.
When the figs are ripe ground mammals can use their teeth to peel of the spiny skin and swallow the delicious sweet interior flesh.
Thanks to Ripin for information and photographs.
