VASE FIG Ficus vasculosa Wall ex Miq. (1848) SECTION: OREOSYCEA
Latin: Vase shaped, referring to the figs.
Plant: A small to large tree with relatively small dense dark green leaves, pale trunk and small buttresses. The young leaves may be lobed like those of F. callosa.
In Singapore relatively common in hedgerows and secondary forest and produces fig fruits when still the size of a shrub. See this excellent article;
Tan et al (2014) Ficus vasculosa in Singapore
Leaves: The leaves are small and plain with a pale midrib but without white side veins present in other Section Oreosycea figs such as Ficus callosa and Ficus nervosa. However the herbarium dried leaves do have a waxy sheen (as seen above) similar to the leaves of other Oreosyceae figs.
Fig: The figs have peduncles (stalks) up to 2 cm with small bracts on the stalk and hang from the ends of the branches. Figs ripen yellow to bright red. This fig may fruit as a shrub or small tree.
Sex: Monoecious (Bisexual) Both sexes combined in one plant.
Distinguish: Only 5 species of Section Oreosycea figs occur in Borneo. All have very tall straight white trunks with prominent buttresses at the base and no strangling or hanging roots. Apart from F. albipila which is very rare only two Bornean Oreosycea have figs which ripen red, F. vasculosa and F. nervosa.
Similar species: The tall straight white trunk can be mistaken for Ficus variegata but the small glossy green leaves with faint veins are very different. Ficus variegata usually has cauliferous figs growing from the trunk whilst F. vasculosa never has cauliferous figs.
Distribution: Found throughout the lowland forests of Borneo but generally very scarce.
Sabah: Beaman 2004 has only two records for Kinabalu at 1,100-1,200 m. Has been found at mile 38.5 on the Tamparuli-Ranau Road.
Brunei: No records but almost certainly under recorded.
Sarawak: The 20/52 most common fig in the 56 ha plot at Lambir (N. Sarawak) where 13 individuals were found. Ficus vasculosa is the only Section Oreosycea fig found at Lambir.
Kalimantan: Present both in East and West Kalimantan (Ferry Slik).
Range: A patchy distribution from S. China south to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java east to Timor. In Singapore a widespread tree of secondary forest, and the forest edge. In Hong Kong a widespread forest tree.
