Ficus crassiuscula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Ficus
Species:
F. crassiuscula
Binomial name
Ficus crassiuscula
Synonyms[3]

Ficus crassiuscula is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and north-western parts of South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela).[3]

Taxonomy

Ficus crassiuscula was first described in 1917.[2] In the 1960 Flora of Panama Gordon P. DeWolf Jr. considered this species to be a synonym of the non-climbing F. insipida,[4] but this taxonomic interpretation has not been followed by subsequent authorities.[3]

With about 750 species, Ficus (Moraceae) is one of the largest angiosperm genera.[5] F. insipida is classified in subgenus Pharmacosycea, section Pharmacosycea, subsection Bergianae, along with F. adhatodifolia, F. carchiana, F. gigantosyce, F. insipida, F. lapathifolia, F. mutisii, F. oapana (spec. nov.? ined.), F. obtusiuscula, F. piresiana, F. rieberiana and F. yoponensis.[6] Although recent work suggests that subgenus Pharmacosycea is polyphyletic, section Pharmacosycea appears to be monophyletic and is a sister group to the rest of the genus Ficus.[7]

Description

Among the fig species in subgenus Pharmacosycea, Ficus crassiuscula is quite unique: all the other species are tall, non-climbing, free-growing trees, but F. crassiuscula instead starts its life as an epiphyte (it is a hemiepiphyte), usually germinating near the ground on the lower tree trunk. It spreads from here as a vine, which roots freely at its nodes in order to climb. As a juvenile it also spreads along the ground, sometimes eventually forming a sprawling thicket - this enables the plant to find its favourite host trees. Eventually parts of it change from a vine to sapling with erect stems, which may eventually become the mature tree, this transformation usually occur when the vine has reached the crotch of a branch or the top of a tree stump.[6][8]

It has dimorphic leaves: the leaves of this species change in shape as it progresses from a juvenile to a mature plant.[6][8]

When mature, it is 20 to 35 meters tall. The leaves are ovoid and shiny, reaching 7cm wide and 16cm long. It flowers February to April and bears warty, yellow-green fruit that are 4 to 6 cm in diameter.[9]

Ecology

It is found in lower montane rainforests.[8] In Costa Rica, F. crassiuscula is found in cloud forest above 1550 meters in altitude.[9] Although it is a free-standing tree when mature, F. crassiuscula begins its growth as a climbing vine. It clings to a mature tree, eventually strangling it. Its favoured hosts are Guarea tuisana and Sapium pachystachys, and it is also frequently found on already-dead trees.[8]

Monkeys feed on fruits while they are still on the tree, and the fallen fruits are eaten by peccaries.[9]

Uses

The wood is soft, but it is used for construction purposes where durability is not important.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Ficus crassiuscula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T61884238A149997308. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T61884238A149997308.en. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Ficus crassiuscula Warb. ex Standl.", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2020-10-09
  3. 1 2 3 "Ficus crassiuscula Warb. ex Standl.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-10-09
  4. ↑ DeWolf, Gordon P. Jr. (1960). "Ficus (Tourn.) L. in Nevling, Lorin I., Jr. Flora of Panama. Part IV. Fascicle II". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 47 (2): 188, 192–193. doi:10.2307/2394704. JSTOR 2394704. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ↑ Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–776. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449.
  6. 1 2 3 Berg, C. C. (2006). "The subdivision of Ficus subgenus Pharmacosycea Section Pharmacosycea (Moraceae)". Blumea. 51 (1): 147–151. doi:10.3767/000651906x622409.
  7. ↑ Rønsted, N.; G.D. Weiblen; W.L. Clement; N.J.C. Zerega; V. Savolainen (2008). "Reconstructing the phylogeny of figs (Ficus, Moraceae) to reveal the history of the fig pollination mutualism" (PDF). Symbiosis. 45 (1–3): 45–56.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Daniels, James D.; Lawton, Robert O. (March 1991). "Habitat and Host Preferences of Ficus crassiuscula, A Neotropical Strangling Fig of the Lower-Montane Rain Forest". Journal of Ecology. 79 (1): 129–141. doi:10.2307/2260788. JSTOR 2260788.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Haber, William (2000). An Introduction to Cloud Forest Trees. Monteverde de Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Mountain Gem Publications. ISBN 9977124183.


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