Ficus opposita
Content
Description
Shrub or tree up to 15 m tall.
Branchlets often drying red-brown.
internal hairs abundant, brownish.
Leaves (sub)opposite or alternate (sub)distichous or in laxly spirals (or subverticillate);
stipules semi-amplexicaul, chartaceous, 0.3-0.5(-0.8) cm long, sparsely puberulous, caducous.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa present); New Guinea present, From Malesia to northern Australia present, Pulau Sangiang, an islet in the Sunda Strait present
From Malesia to northern Australia; in Malesia: Java (Pulau Sangiang, an islet in the Sunda Strait) and New Guinea.
Taxonomy
1The species is very variable, as with regard to the dimensions of the lamina, the length of the petiole, the number of lateral veins, the indumentum, and the frequency of (sub)opposite leaves. The majority of the collections from New Guinea, including those referred to F. cumingii var. androbrota by Corner (1960), are rather sparsely hispidulous. However, in a few collections (including the type of F. branderhorstii), the indumentum of the leafy twig, the petiole and the lamina beneath are densely (sub)tomentose; the lamina is, therefore, smooth, in contrast to most other New Guinean collections. The few collections from Java match the soft-hairy form.
2In Papua New Guinea, the species is represented by a montane form (at altitudes between c. 1500 and 2500 m). It is morphologically distinct in the relatively long acute acumen of the lamina (although this may vary to a short and blunt acumen or to a rounded apex in the same collection). The apices of the growth units of the branches tend to bear a whorl of three leaves.
3This species is related to F. cumingii, the differences being discussed under the latter. Both species show affinities to F. wassa. Ficus opposita can be distinguished from the partly sympatric F. wassa by the short and on the same leafy twig about equally long petioles with persistent epidermis, the waxy glands often largely on the petiole (separate or fused), and the shorter less stiff stipules.
Citation
Summerh. 1941 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 22: 88
Miq. 1867: – Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 3: 291
Summerh. 1941 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 22: 92
Miq. 1867: – Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 3: 291
Summerh. 1941 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 22: 90
Corner 1965: – Gard. Bull. Singapore 21: 70
Miq. 1867: – Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 3: 291
F.M. Bailey 1902 – In: Queensl. Fl.: 1476
Benth. 1873 – In: Fl. Austral.: 175
Benth. 1873 – In: Fl. Austral.: 163
Benth. 1873 – In: Fl. Austral.: 175
Miq. 1913: Compr. Cat. Qld. Pl.: 487
Diels 1935 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 194
Miq. 1913: Compr. Cat. Qld. Pl.: 487
King 1888: p. 79. – In: Sp. Ficus: t. 98
Miq. 1867: – Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 3: 291
Specht 1958 – In: Rec. Am. Austral. Exp. Arnhem Land: 216
Benth. 1873 – In: Fl. Austral.: 175
Domin 1921 – In: Bibl. Bot.: 570
Diels 1935 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 193
F.M. Bailey 1902 – In: Queensl. Fl.: 1477
Benth. 1913: Compr. Cat. Qld. Pl.: 487
F.M. Bailey 1902 – In: Queensl. Fl.: 1476
Koord. 1918 – In: Atlas Baumart. Java: t. 759 F-I.
Diels 1935 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 200
Backer & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 29
Koord. & Valeton 1906 – In: Bijdr. Boomsoort. Java: 192
F. Muell. 1874 – In: Fragm. Phyt. Austral.: 246