This well known giant Ficus kurzii on the edge of Swan Lake in the Singapore Botanic Gardens has puzzled many botanists over the years.
Based on differences in the appearance of this fig and a recently discovered wild Ficus kurzii in the north of the Malay Peninsula, I am guessing that this SBG individual is actually a hybrid between Ficus kurzii and Ficus benjamina when they were planted near each other in an Asian botanic garden over 150 years ago and has been cultivated since then by marcots or cuttings and widely spread.
Ficus kurzii does not grow wild in the south of the Malay Peninsula.
Thanks to Shuai LIAO for information and photos and the authors of A Guide to the Fabulous Figs of Singapore.




