Ficus pellucidopunctata collected on the island of Negros, Philippines now in the Smithsonian Herbarium. Based on Ficus collections in the Leiden Herbarium, F. pellucidopunctata is the second most common large strangler in the forests of Borneo after Ficus sundaica. Photo 2064328, (c) filibot.web
DOTTED FIG Ficus pellucidopunctata Griff. (1854) SECTION: CONOSYCEA
Latin: Translucent hole refers to the flat ostiole covered in translucent bracts before the fig is ripe when the bracts open up to make a clear hole.
Habit: Large strangler 15-50m. Often freestanding after the host tree has died, widespread throughout the lowland forests of Borneo and locally common.
Leaf: The medium size elliptic leaves 5-15cm by 1.5-7 cm wide are very variable in size and shape. The basal veins are no more prominent than the other side veins.
Fig: The small figs (1.0-1.8 cm) are oblong and usually grow alone (less often in pairs) in the leaf axils at the ends of the branches. Figs ripen green to pink to red with a distinctive open ostiole. Note that F. sundaica figs ripen green to yellow to red.
Sex: Monoecious.
Similar species: F. sundaica.
Distinguish: “Resembles the typical form of F. sundaica from which it can be distinguished by the widely open ostiole. Berg (2005). When unripe the ostiole is closed by 3 bracts which do not overlap leading to a Y shape gap over the ostiole. When ripe the bracts fall away and the ostiole is fully open.
Distribution: Widespread and locally common eg at Sepilok (Sandakan) and on Gaya Island Kota Kinabalu. No records from the Kuching area but there were 3 individuals in the 52ha plot at Lambir. On Kinabalu scarce up to 1,100m on ultramafic soils (Beaman 2004).
Range: S. Thailand south to Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo and Palawan.
