Ficus sciaphila

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Ficus sciaphila

Description

Tree up to 8 m tall. internal hairs minute and sparse or absent. Leaves spirally arranged to (sub)opposite; stipules semi-amplexicaul to lateral, 1.5-3(-3.5) cm long, stiff and often subsubulate, striate, glabrous or appressed-puberulous, subpersistent to caducous, on twig apices often tufts of (sub)persistent stipules.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, New Britain present, New Ireland present
New Guinea (New Britain and New Ireland).

Taxonomy

This species is closely related to F. copiosa from which its differs in the larger lamina with more numerous lateral veins (10-12 pairs) and thick petioles of which the epidermis is flaking off over the whole length. It clearly differs from the New Guinean representatives of F. copiosa in the much longer stipules.