Ficus stupenda is a member of a small group of large stranglers which produce abnormally large often very colorful stipules when the plant flushes with new growth. The rest of the year the stipules are no different from normal fig stipules. Other closely related members of this group include Ficus subgelderii, Ficus xylophylla and Ficus crassiramea. Non related figs with the same habit include Ficus elastica and Ficus virens.
All photos by Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin of a fig tree originally marcoted from the wild at Tabin and now growing at the Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre.
