FICUS PARACAMPTOPHYLLA Ficus paracamptophylla Corner (1960)
SECTION: CONOSYCEAE
Greek: Similar to another Conosycea climber Ficus acamptophylla.
Plant: Climber with thick floppy branches locally common in Sarawak and Brunei in peat swamp and dipterocarp forest but rare elsewhere.
Sex: Monoecious.
Leaf: Large oblong leaf 10-26 long 3.5-9.5cm wide with prominent venation below.
Fig: The small oblong figs (1.0-1.5cm) grow in the leaf axils at the ends of the branches. Berg (2005) reports that they ripen “reddish”.
Similar species:
- F. bracteata : Figs have a large distinctive sunken ostiole.
- F. acamptophylla: Very similar but has no persistent bracts.
- F. spiralis, F.villosa and other root climbing figs are always have hairy (not smooth) figs and twigs.
- F. palungensis: Possibly a synonym for F. paracamptophylla.
Distribution: Endemic to Borneo.
The type was collected by J.A.R. Anderson at Semengoh FR near Kuching and described by Corner in the Gardens Bulletin of Singapore (1960).
Sabah: Beaufort, SAN 105173 and Sipitang SAN 7765.
Brunei: Batu Apoi, Sg Belait, Sg Liang and Sg Medit (Coode 1996).
Sarawak: Lambir, Sg. Mentawai-Mulu NP. Bako-Telok Gador.
Kalimantan Kutai (Kaltim), and Gng. Palung in (Kalbar) where Laman & Weiblen (1998) described it as “rare in peat and fresh water swamp forest”.
