Ficus variegata is a common fig throughout Borneo especially on forested river floodplains but also often on the edge of towns. The tall straight white trunk with bunches of cauliferous figs hanging from the trunk is distinctive. This fig can only be confused with Ficus racemosa which is the most common fig along river banks in Borneo. The main trunk of Ficus racemosa is shorter and more branched. The easiest way to distinguish the two fig species is by the leaf shape. Ficus variegata has large heart shaped leaves with a long petiole (leaf stalk). Ficus racemosa leaves are smaller, thinner and a brighter, more glossy green.
Ficus variegata trunks have large root buttresses. All photographs are by Arlene Walshe of the same tree on Bangar Town Padang, Temburong, Brunei.Ficus variegata is a common tree throughout SE Asia south to Australia. The fig fruit are eaten by orangutans, gibbons, macaques, binturongs but mainly by fruit bats in urban areas.Note the more or less heart shaped leaves. Ficus racemosa has smaller, thinner, more elongated leaves.Ficus variegata figs on different trees ripen a variety of colours from green to pink to bright red but fruit bats often eat the figs when they are green.
Ficus variegata is dioecious (separate male and female trees). From the seeds visible in this cut fig fruit this can only be a female tree as male trees do not produce seeds.
