Ficus deltoidea
Content
Description
Shrub up to 3 m tall and epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial or tree up to 7(-10) m tall and terrestrial.
internal hairs present or absent.
Leaves spirally arranged;
stipules 0.3-1(-1.5) cm long, only ciliolate, caducous (or subpersistent).
Morphology
1The species shows a perplexing and confusing variation in the leaves (dimensions, shape, venation, presence and distribution of waxy glands, length of the petiole) and in the syconia (dimensions, shape, colour at maturity, and length and diameter of the peduncle). In most specimens short hairs are confined to the margins of the stipules and (basal and ostiolar) bracts; in some they are confined to the petiole and the base of the midrib beneath. In part of the material only one type of leaves occurs and in another part two more or less distinct types occur, with or without gradual transitions from one type into the other. Also the flowers are quite variable, as in the length of the pedicels and the shape of the ‘gall-fruits’. Moreover, the species varies in habit from small shrubs to treelets, and in life form from terrestrial to epiphytic or epilithic. Some of the variation can be related to habitat or (but usually not very clearly) to distribution.
2Corner (1960) recognized numerous varieties, some of them with two or more forms. Even this elaborate subdivision of the species does not fully comply with the variation, partly as some of the infraspecific subdivisions are again quite variable, partly as some of the variation is gradual rather than abrupt. It seems to be more practical and satisfactory to handle the variation by subdividing the species into two major morphological entities: subsp. deltoidea and subsp. motleyana. As strong phytogeographical and ecological support is lacking, the rank of variety might be more correct, but the chosen rank allows recognition of varieties for regional use.
Citation
Hook. 1836 – In: Comp. Bot. Mag. p 222
Quisumb. 1944 – In: Philipp. J. Sci. p 37
Jack 2000: 254, 255, 269. – In: Tree Fl. Sabah & Sarawak. t. 8
Kochummen 1978 – In: Tree Fl. Malaya. p 145
Corner 1960 – In: Gard. Bull. Singapore 17. p 420
Merr. 1952 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 33. p 225
Corner 1965: – Gard. Bull. Singapore 21. p 37