FICUS DEPRESSA Blume (1823) SECTION CONOSYCEA
Latin: According to Kochummen (2000) Refers to the shape of the fig fruit with a flat area at the base of the peduncle (fruit stalk)..
Habit: Medium size liana (to 30m) confined to primary forest in the lowlands of Borneo.
Sex: Dioecious.
Leaves: Medium to large oblong leaves 5-16 cm long by 1.2-6.5cm wide with a long petiole. up to 4 cm long. There are normally less than 12 pairs of side veins whereas F. annulata normally has 12 or more pairs of side veins.
Fig: The large oblong figs 2-3 cm wide and up to 5 cm long hang on long peduncles (stalks) up to 3.5 cm long, in pairs from the terminal branches. Figs ripen green to yellow and evolved for dispersal by fruit bats.
Similar species: Only three other Conosycea stranglers produce bat figs which ripen green/yellow green.
(1) F. annulata has much larger leaves and the peduncle is either absent or short and thick.
(2) F. lawesii produces tiny figs on very short peduncles.
(3) F. globosa has round figs with a short curved peduncle.
See also F. laevis which is a bat fig that ripens green in Section Rhizocladus. However the leaves are very different.
Distinguish: By the shape, size and ripe colour (green yellow) of the fig.
Distribution: Present in most lowland forests of Borneo up to 1,100 m.
Sabah: Dallas-Kinabalu, Sepilok, Tongod, Gomantong, Silam, Danum, Tawau.
Brunei: Sg Temburong.
Sarawak: Melinau Gorge-Mulu, Kg Belimbing-Padawan, Kg Bidi-Bau.
Kalimantan: Sg Kapuas, Sintang. (Kalbar) Gng Pamattan (Kalsel), Gng Beratus Balikpapan (Kaltim)
Range: S. Thailand, Malaya, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines and Lesser Sunda Islands. Never recorded from Singapore.
