Comparison of Ficus superba and Ficus virens
Ficus superba | Ficus virens | |
Distribution | Coastal E. Malaya, east to Ceram ex. Sumatra and Borneo | Sri Lanka to S. China to Australia |
Overlapping distribution | Virens overlaps Superba throughout | Virens overlaps Superba throughout its range |
Petiole length | 4-20 cm | 2-8 cm |
Fig peduncle | 07-1.5 cm on spurs | Sessile 0 – 1 mm on spurs |
Hairs inside fig | Yes | No |
Resting stipule | Conical terminal bud | Conical terminal bud |
Flushing stipule | Yes | Yes |
Twig width | 5-12 mm | 2-5 mm |
Side veins pairs | 7-10 | 7-14 |
Fig ripe color | Black with pale spots | Grey/pink with dark spots |
Fig size | 1-1.5 cm | 0.4- 1 cm |
Leaf size | 25 x 13.5 max | 20 x 9 max |
In summary, Ficus superba and Ficus virens are closely related and look very similar. However Ficus virens is very widespread and relatively common whereas Ficus superba is relatively rare and generally restricted to small islands and coastal forest. The leaves , figs, leaf stalks and fig stalks of Ficus superba are all longer or bigger than those of Ficus virens. In particular the twigs of Ficus superba are twice as thick as those of Ficus virens.
Ficus virens occurs in all the localities where Ficus superba grows such as Singapore but not in the same habitat. F. superba prefers rocky offshore islands whereas Ficus virens can be found both in parks and forests.
REFERENCES
Chantarusawan et al (2013) A revision of Section Urostigma