The Ficus taxonomy in the articles on this website are based on  Flora Malesiana Volume 17/Part 2-2005  Moraceae (Ficus) by C.C. Berg and E.J.J.Corner – in shortened form – Berg (2005). However some of taxonomic decisions made by Berg (2005) are clearly incorrect and have been updated. In addition Berg published numerous useful papers on Malesian Ficus after 2005 and where relevant we have updated the taxonomy accordingly as with Ficus schwarzii and Ficus rosulata.

In a paper published in Blumea 55 (2010),  C.C. Berg split the fig previously known as Ficus schwarzii into 3 separate species;

(1) Ficus schwarzii confined to Sulawesi.

(2)Ficus rosulata with a distribution including Lower Myanmar, Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra  and Borneo including the Natuna Islands. Common throughout the lowland forests of Borneo.  Click the Ficus rosulata link above the headline to see all the F. rosulata articles.

(3) Ficus kalimantana. One collection from  the hills of Central Kalimantan. F. kalimantana is almost exactly similar  to Ficus rosulata but both the figs and leaves are only half the normal size of F. rosulata. 

Ficus schwarziiI 2538 - Copy.JPG
Ficus rosulata, Deramakot Forest Reserve. This is a bat dispersed fig which ripens green. Note the distinctive features (1) Prominent black peaked bracts surrounding the ostiole,  (2) Lack of any ridges or bracts on the side of the fig.   The white dots on the side of the fig  are glands which produce an ant food during periods when pollinating wasps are either entering or leaving the fig. The numerous black ants you sometimes see on these figs are attracted by the food.