Ficus L. subg. Ficus sect. Eriosycea Miq. subsect. Eriosycea (Miq.) Corner
Content
Description
Trees or treelets.
Hairs at the base of ovaries and stamens.
Leaves often palmately lobed to fid when juvenile, but often also on fertile branches.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, from NE India to New Guinea present
This subsection comprises 19 species in an area extending from NE India to New Guinea, 15 species are Malesian.
Taxonomy
Some groups of related species can be distinguished:
- a. Ficus chartacea-group (subser. Cuneifoliae Corner) — Lamina entire and rela-tively small, the ‘gall-figs’ not dehiscent. The group comprises F. chartacea, F. litseifolia, and F. oreophila.
- b. Ficus fulva-group (subser. Trichosyceae Corner) — Lamina often palmately lobed to fid with the indumentum confined to the venation beneath. It comprises F. fulva, F. halmaherae, F. hirta, F. mollissima, F. schefferiana, and F. subfulva.
- c. Ficus glandulifera-group (subser. Dehiscentes Corner) — Lamina usually entire and the ‘gall-figs’ dehiscent. It comprises F. banahaensis, F. glandulifera, F. lamponga, and F. ruficaulis. These species are closely related and rather difficult to tell apart. Ficus glandulifera has distinct waxy glands, in pairs laterally at the base of the petiole. Ficus lamponga and F. ruficaulis have (often inconspicuous) median waxy glands at the base of the petiole, in F. ruficaulis ± band-shaped. Ficus banahaensis lacks waxy glands at the base of the petiole.
- d. Ficus grossularioides-group (subser. Eriosyceae Corner) — Lamina often palmately lobed to fid with the areoles felted tomentose beneath. It comprises F. grossularioides, F. padana, and F. tricolor.