BORNEO FIG Ficus borneensis  Kochummen (1998)  SECTION CONOSYCEA

Latin: Of Borneo.

Habit: Strangler to 30m.

Sex. Monoecious

Leaf: Small, leathery with indistinct venation on both surfaces

Fig: Small oblong figs (1-2cm) with a closed ostiole which ripen from green to reddish.

Similar species. Four common Bornean stranglers share similar leaves and twigs  and they can only be easily distinguished by the size and shape of the fig (1) Pelucidopunctata-fig resembles F. borneensis but has an open ostiole  (2) F. sumatrana has a small almost round (not oblong) fig (3) Ficus subgelderi-has hairy stipules and the tertiary venation is obvious on the underside of the leaf.

Distinguish: The small oblong fig is distinctive.

Distribution: All the collections in the Leiden Herbarium (Naturalis) are from west Borneo from Kinabalu south to Gunung Kenepai in West Kalimantan. Gng Kenepai is on the southern edge of Betung Kerihun/Lanjak Entimau National Parks just north of the mighty Kapuas River. Beaman records this fig as common on Kinabalu from 900-1,700m., only slightly less common than Ficus sumatrana the most common small leaved strangler on Kinabalu.

Copy of Ficus chewii at Harvard.jpg
Taxonomic Confusion: This fig specimen from the  Harvard Herbarium was originally collected by Corner on the Royal Society Expedition to Kinabalu in 1960-61 at Ulu Mesilau/Ulu Liwagu. In 1972, Corner determined it is F. pellucidopunctata. In 1998 Kochummen used it as the isotype of Ficus chewii and in 2004, Beaman determined it as F. borneensis.