Ficus virens growing near the Kudat Road just north of Kota Belud on Sabah’s west coast. This could be the largest (widest) tree in Borneo with a canopy spread diameter measured at 70 m. Ficus virens is found from India through SE Asia to N. Australia where it is known as the Curtain Fig. Tony Lamb and Robert Ong stand beneath to show the scale. All photos of Ficus virens in this article are by Anthea Phillipps.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Ficus virens, Kota Belud. The small figs ripen white with small pink or purple spots.Ficus virens, Kota Belud. The small fruit, approx. 10 mm in diameter ripen white then pale pink with dark spots. The fruit grow in dense clusters along the branches (ramiflorus) a characteristic of figs belonging to SECTION UROSTIGMA.Ficus virens, Kota Belud, Sabah. A fruiting branch showing scale. The figs are white which means that they are not quite ripe.Ficus virens, Kota Belud, Sabah. The leaves are typical of the five species of Borneo figs in SECTION UROSTIGMA with long petioles (leaf stalks) and a distinct triangular hinge at the junction of the petiole and the lamina (leaf blade). This is best seen on the underside of the leaf blade, so cannot be seen in this photo.Kota Kinabalu is 1.5 hours drive north of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.