Biology:Ficus ilicina

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Short description: Species of tree

Laurel fig
In the Naukluft, Namibia
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Urostigma
Species:
F. ilicina
Binomial name
Ficus ilicina
(Sond.) Miq. (1864)
Synonyms[2]
  • Ficus guerichiana Engl.
  • Urostigma ilicinum Sond.

The Laurel fig (Ficus ilicina) is a species of rock-splitting[3] fig that is native to the semi-desert regions of southwestern Africa in Angola, Namibia, and the Cape Provinces of South Africa.[2] It is only found on rocks,[4] up to an elevation of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).[5]

Description

It is generally a scrambler on rocks, but also a medium-sized shrub, or rarely a large tree of 5 m (16 ft) tall or more.[4] It is mostly evergreen, though a few are bare in spring, just before new foliage emerges. The elliptic leaves are more than twice as long as they are wide, shiny above and matte below.[4] The sessile or stalked figs are produced in the summer months. They are about 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter and appear in the leaf axils near the branch tips.[4]

Range

It occurs in southwestern Angola, the Namibian escarpment and Khomas hochland, and in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Species associations

The pollinating wasp is Elisabethiella enriquesi (Grandi).[5] The figs are eaten by birds and people.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2020). "Ficus ilicina" (in en). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T146435271A146443496.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146435271/146443496. Retrieved 5 September 2026. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ficus ilicina (Sond.) Miq." (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/853001-1. 
  3. ↑ Burring, Jan. "Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq.". SANBI. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/ficusabuti.htm. Retrieved 16 November 2014. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Curtis, B., Mannheimer, C. (2005). "Ficus ilicina, Rock-splitting Fig". National Botanical Research Institute, Windhoek. http://treeatlas.biodiversity.org.na/viewspec.php?nr=267. Retrieved 18 November 2014. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Van Noort, S., Rasplus, J.. "Ficus ilicina (Sonder) Miquel 1867". Iziko Museums. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040550/http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/Subgenus_Urostigma/Section_Galoglychia/Subsection_Chlamydodorae/Ficus_ilicina.htm. Retrieved 18 November 2014. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15475372 entry