Biology:Ficus mucuso

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Short description: Species of plant

Ficus mucuso
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Species:
F. mucuso
Binomial name
Ficus mucuso
Welw. ex Ficalho
Synonyms[2]
  • Ficus corylifolia Warb.
  • Ficus corylifolia var. glabrescens Warb.
  • Ficus sidifolia Welw. ex Hiern

Ficus mucuso is a medium to large sized tree within the family Moraceae. It is native to tropical Africa, ranging from Guinea Bissau in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and south to Angola and Tanzania.[2] It grows in lowland tropical moist forest.[1]

Description

A medium-sized to tall sized tree, Ficus mucuso can reach an height of 30 m, sometimes up to 40m; the plant commonly has prominent plank-like buttressed roots that sometimes extend for about 4 meters up the trunk.[3] The bark is smooth, cinnamon brown in color and rarely scaly.[3] Leaves have stipules and petiole, stipules tend to be caducous while petiole is hairy, up to and 10 cm long.[4] Surface of leaves can be rough or sometimes smooth, with a cordate base and acuminate apex. Figs can be found on branches of the species, they are globular in shape, and are commonly green when young becoming yellow to orange when ripe.[4]

Ecology

The figs of the species are eaten by avian wildlife that includes the black-billed turcaco.[5]

Uses

Among the Baganda people of Uganda, wood obtained from Ficus mucuso are carved to make drums.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Ficus mucuso" (in en). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T143276968A143295221.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/143276968/143295221. Retrieved 5 September 2026. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ficus mucuso Welw. ex Ficalho" (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/583844-1. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eggeling, William (1939). A descriptive list of the indigenous trees of the Uganda protectorate (PhD thesis). University of Edinburgh.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ndolo Ebika, S. T.; Morgan, D.; Sanz, C.; Harris, D. J. (2018-08-09). "FICUS SPECIES IN THE SANGHA TRINATIONAL, CENTRAL AFRICA". Edinburgh Journal of Botany 75 (3): 377–420. doi:10.1017/S0960428618000173. ISSN 1474-0036. https://journals.rbge.org.uk/ejb/article/view/1713. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cunningham, Anthony B.; Campbell, Bruce Morgan; Belcher, Brian (2005). Carving out a future: forests, livelihoods and the international woodcarving trade. People and plants conservation series. Fonds mondial pour la nature, Unesco, Royal botanic gardens. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-045-9. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15476823 entry