Ficus magnoliifolia: First Borneo fruiting record at Lahad Datu

Thanks to Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin of the SFGC for the information and photos.

Typical of figs in Section oreosycea , Ficus magnoliifolia has a talk pale trunk up to 45 m with large buttresses.

Ronald Jummy of Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre at Tabin in Sabah, shows the scale.

This fig tree is growing on an oil palm estate at KL Kepong area, Landang Tungku, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Photos thanks to  Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin of the Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre.

 

Note that  side veins of the leaf  are defined in obvious loops which are distant from the margin of the leaf.  This is a useful distinguishing feature from Ficus callosa leaves.

Ficus callosa produces very similar figs.

Ficus magnoliifolia like all Section oreosycea figs is monoecious which means that figs produce both seeds and fig wasps in the same fig.

Note that the figs are attached to the twig by a stipe  with the bracts  next to the trunk. This is a useful distinguishing feature from Ficus annulata which has similar leaves and figs.