Distribution
|
From Southern Africa
through central Africa
to Senegal in the west and Ethiopia in the north.
|
Biology
|
Pollinator:
Kradibia
gestroi afrum (Wiebes).
|
Habitat
|
Savanna and
woodland - along streams and
in swampy areas.
|
Description
|
(after C.C. Berg in
Berg &
Wiebes,1992):
|
|
Biological
form
|
Shrub
up to 5 m tall, terrestrial
|
|
Leaves
|
shape
& colour
|
distichous
and alternate, subovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, apex acute, sometimes
trilobed, base rounded to acute, both surfaces scabrous
|
|
|
size
|
2-15
x 1-6 cm
|
|
|
lateral
veins
|
5-12
pairs, basal pair unbranched reaching margin below the middle of the
lamina
|
|
|
petiole
|
0.2-2
cm long, hispidulous
|
|
Stipules
|
0.5-1
cm long, partly puberulous, subpersistent
|
|
Figs
|
position
|
solitary
or in pairs in the leaf axils
|
|
|
shape
|
globose,
Æ
1.5-3 cm (fresh), hispidulous
|
|
|
peduncle
|
0.5-1.5
cm long
|
|
|
basal
bracts
|
3
in number, 1-1.5 mm long, scattered on the peduncle
|
|
References
|
Berg,
C.C. 1988. New taxa and combinations in Ficus (Moraceae) in
Africa. Kew Bulletin 43: 77- 97.
Berg,
C.C. 1989. Moraceae. In: R.M. Polhill (ed.) Flora of Tropical East Africa.
A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.
Berg,
C.C. 1990. Distribution of African taxa of Ficus (Moraccae).
[Proc. 12th AETFAT]. Mitt. inst. Allg. Bot. Hamburg 23: 401-405.
Berg, C.C. 1990. Annotated check-list of the Ficus species
of the African floristic region, with special reference and a key to the
taxa of southern Africa. Kirkia, 13: 253-291.
Berg,
C.C. 1991. Moraceae. In: E. Launert & G.Y. Pope (eds) Flora
Zambesiaca 9, 6. Natural History Museum, London.
Berg, C.C. & Hijman, M.E.E. 1989. Chapter 11. Ficus. Flora of
Tropical East Africa (ed. R.M. Polhill). 43-86. A.A. Balkema,
Rotterdam.
Berg,
C.C., Hijman, M.E.E. & Weerdenburg, J.C.A. 1984. Moracées (incl.
Cécropiacées). Flore du Gabon 26: 1–276.
Berg,
C.C., Hijman, M.E.E. & Weerdenburg, J.C.A. 1985. Moracées (incl.
Cécropiacées). Flore du Cameroun 28: 1–298.
Berg, C.C. & Wiebes, J.T. 1992. African fig trees and
fig wasps. Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen.
Amsterdam, 1-298 pp.
Burrows, J. & Burrows,
S. 2003. Figs of southern & south-central Africa. Umdaus Press,
Hatfield. 379 pp.
|
Credits
|
Photographs
©
Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums);
illustration
©
Jean-Yves Rasplus (INRA). |
 |
Ficus exasperata
Vahl |
|
