Photo above by Zainal Zahari Zainuddin shows the leaves and figs of 3 different individual trees photographed near Lahad Datu in Sabah.
The middle sample appears to have figs intermediate in colour and size between F. microcarpa ( left) and F. benjamina (right).
A DNA study of the common figs on islands near to Krakatau in the Sunda Strait showed that 14% showed evidence of hybrid genes. See article summary below;
Parish et al (2003) Genetic Evidence for Natural Hybridization between Species of Dioecious Ficus on island populations (Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java)
Summary: 64 collections of 7 species of Ficus DNA were made in 1996 and 1999 from the islands and the surrounding mainland of the Sunda Strait. Later generation hybrids were identified indicating that backcrossing and introgression did occur and that the hybrids could be fertile.” Most hybrids were Ficus septica x Ficus fistulosa but there were two hybrid Ficus hispida. As the paper points out hybrids are more likely to occur in small isolated populations because “In the absence of its own species it is better for a pollinating wasp to go to another fig species to try and reproduce rather than go to no fig at all.
Out of 64 collections, based on visual differences 22 collections were regarded as possible hybrids and subjected to further DNA analysis. Of the 22 collections 9 were found to have hybrid DNA with 6 definite and 3 uncertain. Three species were involved including F. septica, F. fistulosa and F. hispida.
All these individuals came from small islands not the mainland.
Typical hybrids would have leaf morphology or branch morphology from one parent with fig fruit morphology from another parent.
Conclusion
- Because figs are so variable individual figs may look like hybrids even though they are not.
- Hybrids do occur regularly in small island populations.
- The hybrids may not look like hybrids, only DNA analysis can tell.
- Hybrids are likely to be common in Bornean figs especially in disturbed areas with isolated populations.
Read the full article: Parish et al (2003) Genetic Evidence for Natural Hybridization between Species of Dioecious Ficus
A possible hybrid between F. variegata and F. fistulosa growing next to the Nexus Resort access road near Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
A possible hybrid between F. variegata and F. fistulosa rowing next to the Nexus Resort access road near Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
A possible hybrid between F. variegata and F. fistulosa rowing next to the Nexus Resort access road near Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.