A rare Ficus subsidens growing  next to a rocky cliff along the road to the Timpohon Gate at c. 1,870 meters on Mt. Kinabalu. The Timpohon Gate  is at the  start of the Mount Kinabalu summit trail. Ficus subsidens is endemic to the mountains of Northern Borneo and this is the highest record to date.

The forest on and surrounding Mt Kinabalu hosts the highest diversity of figs per unit area in the world.

The cloud forest above 2000m on Kinabalu is believed to be one of the wettest places in Borneo with annual rainfall exceeding 4 meters. The ground is almost permanently wet,  the result both of  low clouds and heavy rain that falls every day, for most of the year.

Stream dispersal: As described below the seeds inside the fig are expelled from the ripe fig. It is believed that this is an aid to help the seeds be dispersed by the numerous tiny streams and rivulets that cross the rocky slopes of Kinabalu, the favoured habitat of Ficus subsidens.

Photos and information provided by Shavez Cheema and Chun Xing WONG of 1Stop Borneo Wildlife.