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Sterile figs;
Lusaka SE, grown from seed collected at Puta, on Lake Mweru; Jun 2013.
Photo: Mike Bingham
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small to medium tree, to 15 m tall, trunk surrounded by adventitious roots; bark on branches granular. Leaves oblong to subovate, apex apiculate, base rounded to cordate, with lateral nerves in 3−5 pairs. Figs 1-4 together on short spurs. |
Type location: |
Ghana |
Notes: | No Zambian specimens confirmed yet. The trees from the Lake Mweru area key out to this subspecies: leaves ovate, lateral veins in 5 pairs. Ficus polita as applied by Berg (in Flora Zambesiaca), is considered by Burrows & Burrows to be a synonym of Ficus modesta F. White. But Berg gives Ficus modesta as a synonym of Ficus ottoniifolia subsp. ulugurensis (Mildbr. & Burret) C.C. Berg. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Deciduous and dry-evergreen forest. |
Altitude range: | 1200 m (approx) |
Flowering time: | May - Jul |
Worldwide distribution: | West Africa to Kenya and KwaZulu-Natal, mostly at low altitudes. |
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | N |
Zambian distribution (Provinces): | N,W |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Lower Risk - least concern |
Insects associated with this species: | Courtella bekiliensis bispinosa (Pollinated by this insect) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Friday 5 July 2013 |
Literature: |
Berg C.C. & Wiebes J.T. (1992). African fig trees and fig wasps. Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen. Amsterdam Berg, C.C. (1991). Moraceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2003). Figs of Southern and South-Central Africa Umdaus Press, South Africa Pages 211 - 214. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 92. As Ficus polita (Includes a picture). |
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