Ficus mollior
Description
Tree up to 25 m tall;
Leaves spirally arranged (to subdistichous);
stipules 0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm long, strigose to subhirsute, towards the margin minutely puberulous or glabrous, caducous (or subpersistent).
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), From Malesia to Australia present, New Britain present, New Ireland present, Solomon Islands present
From Malesia to Australia (Queensland) and the Solomon Islands; in Malesia: New Guinea (incl. New Britain and New Ireland).
Morphology
3Ficus mollior can be distinguished from F. adenosperma by the clearly scalariform tertiary venation (with more than 5 intercostals), but in specimens with relatively small leaves and fig receptacle and with sparse indumentum, often only just.
1This species is quite variable, showing the same type of variation as F. adenosperma. The infraspecific taxa which have been recognized also appear to represent extremes of ± continuous variation. This also includes the dimensions of the fig receptacle and the length of the peduncle and, therewith, the material recognized by its relatively large and sessile figs as F. ochrochlora. The indumentum varies from pale brown to dark brown (as in the type material of F. spadicea) and from soft and ± crinkled hairs to stiff and straight hairs.
4According to Corner (1965: 80), the species is also found in the Moluccas (Ambon), but no specimens were found in L.
2A form from the Solomon Islands resembles very much F. comitis in its small, usually stipitate fig receptacles and the dimensions of the lamina, but it is distinct in lacking the ± abruptly acuminate apex of the lamina and having hairy leafy twigs.
Citation
G. Karst. & Schenck 1908 – In: Vegetationsbilder: t. 12
Summerh. 1941 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 22: 90, 91
Diels 1935 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 232
Benth. 1913: Compr. Cat. Qld. Pl.: 487
Corner 1965: – Gard. Bull. Singapore 21: 80
F.M. Bailey 1902 – In: Queensl. Fl.: 1475
Diels 1935 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 197