| Cape fig | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Ficus |
| Species: | F. sur |
| Binomial name | |
| Ficus sur Forssk. 1775 | |
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| range of F. sur | |
| Synonyms | |
Ficus sur, with the common names Cape fig and broom cluster fig, [note 3] is a widespread Afrotropical species of cauliflorous fig.
The tree is found from Cape Verde and Senegambia across tropical West Africa to Cameroon and the Central African Republic; eastwards to Eritrea, northern Somalia and Yemen; and southwards through all tropical eastern and southern African countries. It is not found in Lesotho or the dry interior regions of Botswana, Namibia, or South Africa. [3]
It is found in tropical forests and grassy woodlands, and occurs in higher densities within well-watered, temperate upland habitats. [4] It is absent or outnumbered at lower, warmer climates by the similarly cauliflorous species, Ficus sycomorus . In cooler climates it is a coastal tree, and in warmer interior climates may be found up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) in elevation. [1] [3] [5]
Over its extensive range it is variable with respect to leaf shape, texture of the leaves and figs, deciduousness and overall size. [1]
Ficus sur is a fast-growing, deciduous or evergreen tree. [6] It usually grows from 5–12 metres (16–39 ft) in height, but may attain a height of 35–40 metres (115–131 ft). [3] [4] [7] Large specimens develop a massive spreading crown, [7] fluted trunks, and buttress roots. [6] [5]
The large, alternate and spirally arranged leaves are ovate to elliptic with irregularly serrated margins. [5] Fresh foliage is a conspicuous red colour and the papery, 1 cm long stipules are soon dropped. [4] The bark of younger trees is smooth and pale greyish-white in colour, in contrast to the flaky, yellow bark of F. sycomorus. With increasing age the bark becomes darker and rough. [6]
The figs are carried on short or long drooping spurs (or fascicles) which may emerge from surface roots, the trunk or especially from lower main branches. [1] [4] [7] The figs are 2–4 cm in diameter [1] [8] and acquire a rosy, speckled exterior when ripe.
The fig seeds are dispersed after passing through the intestinal tracts of birds, bats, and primates. [7] [8]
Lepidopteran larvae of the African map butterfly, [5] fig tree moth, [9] accented hawk moth, [5] specious tiger, [8] common fig-tree blue [8] and lesser fig-tree blue [8] feed on the leaves or roots of this species.
Pollination is performed by three species of Ceratosolen wasp. [8] [10] [11] The Ceratosolen wasps are parasitised by Apocrypta guineensis and Sycoscapter niger wasps during their larval development inside the flower galls. As of 2006, 19 species of fig wasp were known to associate with the Cape fig, these belonging to genera Acophila , Apocrypta , Apocryptophagus , Ceratosolen , Eukoebelea , Idarnes , Sycomacophila , Sycophaga , Sycophila , Sycoscapter and Watshamiella . [11] The Afrotropical fig wasp fauna is however poorly known. [11]
The figs are edible and utilized in fresh or dried form by native people in many regions. They are also suited to preparation of fig preserve, [7] if other suitable fruit are added. [4]
The heavily clustered figs suggest fecundity, and some trees in East Africa have been venerated as sacred shrines in animist practices. [4]
The wood is light and soft, and is not much used commercially.
All parts may exude a latex, which has some traditional medicinal plant uses. [4] The latex has been shown to contain ursene and oleanane triterpenoids, [12] of which the latter may be effective in cancer treatment, [13] while a methanolic extract from the roots is potentially effective against chloroquine-resistant malaria. [13]
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The common fig (F. carica) is a temperate species native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region, which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit, also referred to as figs. The fruit of most other species are also edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife. Figs are also of considerable cultural importance throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many practical uses.
Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry, sycamore, or sycomore, is a fig species that has been cultivated since ancient times.
The Pondoland fig is a species of fig that is endemic to forests of coastal South Africa, where it is threatened by habitat loss.
The Ficus sansibarica, known as knobbly fig, is an African species of cauliflorous fig. It is named after Zanzibar, where Franz Stuhlmann discovered it in 1889. They often begin life as epiphytes, which assume a strangling habit as they develop. They regularly reach 10 m, but may grow up to 40 m tall as forest stranglers.
Ficus craterostoma, a species of strangler fig, is a fig shrub or tree of the Afrotropics that may grow up to 20 m tall. It is found in lowland tropical and swamp forests in the west, or in afromontane forests, including rocky situations, along Africa's eastern escarpments. The western and eastern populations may constitute separate species, as they occur at different altitudes where their ranges meet in central Africa, while they seem to have exclusive pollinating wasp species.
The Wonderboom is an evergreen fig species that ranges from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands northwards to tropical East Africa. It grows especially on outcrops, rocky hillsides and along cliffs fringing water courses and may rarely grow up to 10 m tall, and acquire a leafy spreading crown.
Ficus ingens, the red-leaved fig, is a fig species with an extensive range in the subtropical to dry tropical regions of Africa and southern Arabia. Despite its specific name, which means "huge", or "vast", it is usually a shrub or tree of modest proportions. It is a fig of variable habit depending on the local climate and substrate, typically a stunted subshrub on elevated rocky ridges, or potentially a large tree on warmer plains and lowlands. In 1829 the missionary Robert Moffat found a rare giant specimen, into which seventeen thatch huts of a native tribe were placed, so as to be out of reach of lions.
Ficus auriculata is a type of fig tree, native to subtropical parts of Asia. It is noted for its big and round leaves and edible fruit.
Ficus burtt-davyi is a fig species endemic to Southern Africa, belonging to the Mulberry family of Moraceae. It grows in coastal and inland forests up to 1500m, from the vicinity of Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape to southern Mozambique - the forms growing on coastal dunes in the northern part of its range are salt tolerant and form low thickets on the margins of woodland. In the southern and eastern Cape forests the species becomes a strangler or liane, while when found on rocky outcrops and cliffs it usually develops into a rock-splitter.
Ceratosolen is an Old World wasp genus in the family Agaonidae. They are pollinators of the monoecious fig subsections Sycomorus and Sycocarpus, and the section Neomorphe, all belonging to the subgenus Sycomorus. The genus is native to the Palearctic, Afrotropical, Indomalayan and Australasian realms.
Sycophaga is a mainly Afrotropical gall wasp genus of the superfamily Chalcidoidea that live on the section Sycomorus of the monoecious fig subgenus, Sycomorus, and one of several fig wasp genera to exploit its mutualism with Ceratosolen wasps.
Apocrypta is an Old World genus of parasitic fig wasps in the family Pteromalidae. They are parasitoids of gall-wasps in the Sycophagini tribe, and especially Ceratosolen species, pollinators of the Sycomorus, Sycocarpus and Neomorphe sections of Ficus. They seem to be fig species-specific.
Sycomacophila is an Afrotropical genus of gall wasps that live on the monoecious fig subgenus, Sycomorus.
Ficus cordata, the Namaqua rock fig, or Namaqua fig is a species of fig that occurs in two disjunct populations in Africa, one in the arid southwest of the continent, and a second in the northern subtropics. In the south it is often the largest and most prominent tree, and is virtually restricted to cliff faces and rock outcrops, where it has a rock-splitting habit.
Ficus abutilifolia, the large-leaved rock fig, is a species of African rock-splitting fig that occurs in two disjunct regions, one population north, and another south of the equator. The two populations are pollinated by different fig wasps, and are morphologically distinct. It is named for the similarity of its broadly ovate leaves to that of Abutilon. It is virtually restricted to cliff faces and rock outcrops, and is easily recognized from its large, glabrous leaves and smooth, pale bark.
''Ficus cyathistipula'', the African fig tree, is a species of fig that is native to the tropical forest regions of Africa. They may be small trees, shrubs or hemi-epiphytic lianas, and are widespread in the moist tropics, where they may be found in Afromontane or rainforest, often overhanging pools. The figs are reddish when ripe, and have thick, spongy walls that enable them to float on water. They are named for their cup-shaped (cyathus-) and persistent stipules (stipula).
The Laurel fig is a species of rock-splitting fig that is native to the semi-desert regions of southwestern Africa. It is only found on rocks, up to an altitude of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).
Ficus polita, the heart-leaved fig, is a species of fig that is native to forests of tropical Africa,
Sycoscapter is a genus of non-pollinating fig wasp which is native to the Afrotropical, Indomalayan and Australasian realms. They are parasitoids of fig wasps in the Ceratosolen, Eupristina and Kradibia genera.
Ficus bernaysii is a lowland rainforest tree in the family Moraceae, native to an area from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. It is dioecious, and grows cauliflorous fruit. It is fed on by a wide range of animals.
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