It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the two-brand crow butterfly (Euploea sylvester) of northern Australia.

[4] In the Atharva Veda, this fig tree (Sanskrit: Umbara or Audumbara)[5] is given prominence as a means for acquiring prosperity and vanquishing foes.

The tree is seen planted in all the places associated with Lord Dattatreya who is seen as an icon Rishi a sage who represents all the three of the trinity of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Creator, Preserver and destroyer) needed for each one to learn by unlearning the obsolete.

The Ovambo people call the fruit of the cluster fig eenghwiyu and use it to distill ombike, their traditional liquor.

In India, the bark is rubbed on a stone with water to make a paste, which can be applied to boils or mosquito bites.

A common folk remedy is to rub the affected area lightly with a leaf, which effectively dislodges the stinging hairs.