The photo shows the the ripe figs of Ficus pisocarpa. Note the obvious ostiole (hole) at the bottom of the fig.
This small strangler was photographed at 1080 m in cloud forest next to the main trail to Gunung Lucia in Tawau Hills Park in east Sabah.
All photos by Chun Xing Wong of 1StopBorneo Wildlife
The figs resemble Ficus pisocarpa whilst the leaves resemble Ficus pellucidopunctata.
| F. pisocarpa | F.pellucidopunctata | |
| Status | Common lowland forest | Common lowland forest |
| Size | Small strangler | Small strangler |
| Basal veins | Very distinct | Only slightly distinct |
| Basal veins | Up to 50% of leaf length | Up to 25% of leaf length |
| Side veins | 3-6 pairs | 6-12 pairs |
| Side veins | Obvious and sunken | Obscure flat |
| Leaf side | Revolute (edge turned under) | Flat |
| Leaf shape | Oval to oblong | Oblong |
| Fig ostiole | Open with plain rim | Open with red/pink rim |
| Fig color | Yellow | Pale green/white yellow |
| Fig shape | Small round | Medium oblong |
A study by Parish et al (2003) Genetic Evidence for Natural Hybridization between Species of Dioecious Ficus found that one in seven of the figs they studied in Indonesia contained hybrid genes . Therefore hybrids are likely to be relatively common in Bornean figs. Typically hybrid figs will bear figs that look like one species and leaves that look like another species. See also this article illustrating possible hybrids..
