Ficus L. subg. Sycomorus (Gasp.) Miq. sect. Adenosperma Corner
Description
— Most species show more or less clearly Terminalia-branching (see p. 000), but without terminal tufts of stipules. Features of this mode of branching do not occur in the two species with distichous leaves (F. endochaete and F. umbonata) and neither in the two species with large leaves (F. megalophylla and F. saccata). This characteristic branch construction is most apparent in the frutescent species with spirally arranged small or medium-sized leaves (as F. arbuscula), less so in the arborescent ones, constituting the majority of the section.
Both pachycladous and leptocladous species are found in the sect. Adenosperma.
Dioecious shrubs or trees, the branches often with the proximal internodes long, becoming (gradually) shorter and, therefore, the leaves terminally ± tufted, the lower internodes only with stipules or with much reduced laminas (Terminalia-branching). internal hairs mostly present. — The leaves vary from large, in F. megalophylla and F. saccata, to small, as often in F. adenosperma and F. trichocerasa. The tertiary venation is mostly distinctly scalariform, but reticulate to subscalariform in F. adenosperma. The leaf margin is always entire.
Leaves spirally arranged and often tending to subdistichous or distichous; — In all species the figs occur in pairs or solitary in the leaf axils. In several species they also occur on short spurs on the smaller branches. In some species the figs are borne on branched leafless branchlets on the trunk (or also on the main branches?). It is not quite clear whether ramiflory and cauliflory is related to the age of the tree or shrub. Some label data suggest that cauliflory and the axillary position of the figs do not always occur simultaneously.
The basal bracts are often non-verticillate, but may occur ± scattered on the peduncle. Lateral bracts are common in most of the species.
Internal hairs are present in most species, often abundantly, but they are always (?) absent in F. austrina and sometimes so in F. casearioides.
— The tepals of pistillate flowers are mostly free or almost so, but occasionally extensively connate as in F. casearioides. Bracteoles subtending and enveloping the staminate flowers are not found in F. endochaete.
stamen 1. — They have a double keel in the basal part in most species, but not in F. austrina and F. megalophylla (and neither the Melanesian F. indigofera, F. verticillaris, and F. vitiensis). Fruits red-brown, compressed, usually double keeled (at the base), smooth.
Both pachycladous and leptocladous species are found in the sect. Adenosperma.
Dioecious shrubs or trees, the branches often with the proximal internodes long, becoming (gradually) shorter and, therefore, the leaves terminally ± tufted, the lower internodes only with stipules or with much reduced laminas (Terminalia-branching). internal hairs mostly present. — The leaves vary from large, in F. megalophylla and F. saccata, to small, as often in F. adenosperma and F. trichocerasa. The tertiary venation is mostly distinctly scalariform, but reticulate to subscalariform in F. adenosperma. The leaf margin is always entire.
Leaves spirally arranged and often tending to subdistichous or distichous; — In all species the figs occur in pairs or solitary in the leaf axils. In several species they also occur on short spurs on the smaller branches. In some species the figs are borne on branched leafless branchlets on the trunk (or also on the main branches?). It is not quite clear whether ramiflory and cauliflory is related to the age of the tree or shrub. Some label data suggest that cauliflory and the axillary position of the figs do not always occur simultaneously.
The basal bracts are often non-verticillate, but may occur ± scattered on the peduncle. Lateral bracts are common in most of the species.
Internal hairs are present in most species, often abundantly, but they are always (?) absent in F. austrina and sometimes so in F. casearioides.
— The tepals of pistillate flowers are mostly free or almost so, but occasionally extensively connate as in F. casearioides. Bracteoles subtending and enveloping the staminate flowers are not found in F. endochaete.
stamen 1. — They have a double keel in the basal part in most species, but not in F. austrina and F. megalophylla (and neither the Melanesian F. indigofera, F. verticillaris, and F. vitiensis). Fruits red-brown, compressed, usually double keeled (at the base), smooth.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), Pacific: Fiji (Fiji present), Solomon Islands present
New Guinea is evidently the centre of this section. The majority of the 20 species are confined to New Guinea, some extend to the Moluccas and Celebes, to the Solomon Islands, and/or to Queensland. Ficus indigofera Rech. and F. verticillaris Corner are confined to the Solomon Islands and F. vitiensis Seem. to Fiji. The section is associated with riverine habitats, some are occasionally rheophytic, but F. arbuscula usually so (see ).
Several species are elements of montane forest, as Nothofagus forest (in New Guinea).
Several species are elements of montane forest, as Nothofagus forest (in New Guinea).