Ficus scaberrima is a straggling epiphyte with clasping roots that is common in the forest understorey throughout west Borneo. In east Borneo it appears to be replaced by F. obscura which is very similar apart from having more hairs on the figs and the twigs.
This individual plant was photographed in the Crocker Range by Linus Gokusing.
Note the large asymetric leaves which feel like rough sandpaper and the small figs characteristically of many different colours. In the top left hand corner see the hollow twig. Ficus scabberima is unique amongst Bornean figs many of which have hollow twigs. F. scaberrima is the only one that that naturally grows access holes to these hollow twigs-which are inhabited by many different species of ants. The ants are believed to defend the plant against leaf eating insects and parasitic fig wasps.A closeup of the access hole created by the plant itself. Note the tiny black ants that occupy the hollow twig. At least 8 different ant species have been recorded occupying these “domatia” in Ficus scaberrima. See Maschwitz et al (1994)
