Ficus cantoniensis E. Bodinier ex H. Léveillé; F. scandens Roxburgh (1832), not Lamarck (1786), nor Buchanan-Hamilton (1826).

Shrubs, scandent. Stems and branchlets with aerial roots at nodes; branchlets pubescent when young. Stipules caducous, ovate. Leaves distichous; petiole thick, 1-2 cm; leaf blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 6-11 × 3.5-5 cm, thickly leathery, with hairs when young, both sides with papillate cystoliths, base broadly cuneate to obtuse, margin entire, apex obtuse to occasionally rounded; basal lateral veins extending to 1/3 to 1/2 of leaf blade length, secondary veins 3-5 on each side of midvein, abaxially prominent, and adaxially impressed. Figs axillary on leafy or on leafless branchlets, solitary or paired, yellowish green to red when mature, globose, 0.7-1.4 cm in diam., with thick and short hairs when young, inside without bristles, apical pore navel-like, slightly convex; peduncle 1-1.2 cm; involucral bracts 3, connate for basal half. Male flowers: few, scattered, sessile; calyx lobes 3 or 4; stamens 2; filaments free; anthers not mucronate. Gall flowers: pedicellate; calyx lobes 4, lanceolate; ovary obovate, hard, black; style subapical, short; stigmas curved. Female flowers: pedicellate or sessile; calyx lobes 4, linear. Achenes ellipsoid, dorsally keeled; stigmas extended. Fl. May-Jul.

Forests in mountains; 500-700(-1500) m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Guizhou, Hainan, S and W Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand].