A female Ficus punctata liana growing in the protected forest of Gunung Niut national park in West Kalimantan.
The photos show that these female figs were in the receptive phase and were being pollinated by fig wasps when the photographs were taken.
During the receptive phase female figs emit scents (volatiles) to indicate they are receptive to fig wasps from male figs in the same locality.
If no nearby male figs are “ripe” at the same time, the receptive phase of female figs can last for several weeks.
However if ripe male figs are present then the female receptive stage may only last a couple of days.
All photographs courtesy of Ripin Forestry.
