Ficus L. subg. Synoecia (Miq.) Miq. sect. Kissosycea Miq.
Content
Description
Staminate and neuter flowers mostly scattered among the pistillate flowers, sometimes near the ostiole.
Stamens 1 (or 2), the anthers short elliptic to oblong in outline, not mucronate.
Ovaries of short-styled flowers (dark) red-brown.
Distribution
Asian mainland present, Malesian region present, from Sri Lanka to Australia and the Solomon Islands present
This section comprises 28 species and ranges from Sri Lanka to Australia and the Solomon Islands; only two species (F. diversiformis and F. hederacea Roxb.) are confined to the Asian mainland, the others occur in the Malesian region.
Taxonomy
The section is rather homogeneous, but allows recognition of two groups with distinct links, in particular in the features of the areoles.
- a. Ficus apiocarpa-group (ser. Apiocarpae Corner) — Lamina symmetric or asymmetric, at least at the base, tessellate beneath, the areoles brownish surrounded with pale-coloured tissue (when dry). Figs (usually) axillary, small to large. Staminate and neuter flowers scattered among the pistillate ones or near the ostiole. Stamens 1 (or 2). Fruits not or short stipitate.
Distribution — The group is centred in western Malesia, two species are confined to New Guinea, one species extends to the Asian mainland, to which two species are confined (F. diversiformis and F. hederacea). It comprises the following species in Malesia: F. allutacea, F. apiocarpa, F. barba-jovis, F. detonsa, F. diandra, F. disticha, F. distichoidea, F. gamostyla, F. peninsula, F. phatnophylla, F. sohotonensis, F. submontana, and F. warburgii. Ficus detonsa, F. distichoidea, and F. warburgii constitute a set of probably related species, being in dimensions of the leaves intermediate between F. disticha and a group of large(r)-leafed species, comprising F. apiocarpa and allied species, in which the position of the leaves varies from lax spirals to distichous. - b. Ficus punctata-group (ser. Punctatae Corner) — Lamina often asymmetric, at least at the base, foveolate beneath, the stomatal pits brownish (when dry) with short hairs on the rims. Figs axillary or cauliflorous, often large, and then with a wide cavity and the staminate and neuter flowers numerous and with long pedicels; internal hairs absent or sparse. Staminate and neuter flowers scattered among the pistillate ones, the tepals often connate. Stamens 1 (or 2). Fruits often long-stipitate.
Distribution — This group is centred in western Malesia, only two species are confined to New Guinea (and New Britain), and one, F. punctata, extends to the Asian mainland and Taiwan. The group comprises the following species: F. carrii, F. cataupi, F. cavernicola, F. densechini, F. grandiflora, F. gymnorygma, F. punctata, F. ruginervia, F. sarawakensis, F. scratchleyana, F. singalana, F. trachycoma, and F. tulipifera.
Morphology — The group shows a considerable variation in the dimensions of fig receptacles, even within species, as in F. punctata and F. scratchleyana. In the large figs of this group the large number of the staminate and neuter flowers and the conspicuous length of their pedicels are remarkable. Moreover, staminate flowers are sometimes absent in figs with short-styled flowers and figs may contain staminate flowers only. The scarcity of material does not allow tracing patterns in the variation of the size of the figs and the distribution of the four types of flowers.