Laurel fig
In the Naukluft, Namibia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Urostigma
Species:
F. ilicina
Binomial name
Ficus ilicina
(Sond.) Miq. 1864
Synonyms
  • Ficus guerichiana Engl.
  • Urostigma ilicinum Sond.[1]

The Laurel fig (Ficus ilicina) is a species of rock-splitting[2] fig that is native to the semi-desert regions of southwestern Africa. It is only found on rocks,[3] up to an altitude of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).[4]

Description

It is generally a scrambler on rocks, but also a medium-sized shrub, or rarely a large tree of 5 m (16 ft) tall or more.[3] It is mostly evergreen, though a few are bare in spring, just before new foliage emerges. The elliptic leaves are more than twice as long as they are wide, shiny above and matte below.[3] The sessile or stalked figs are produced in the summer months. They are about 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter and appear in the leaf axils near the branch tips.[3]

Range

It occurs in southwestern Angola, the Namibian escarpment and Khomas hochland, and in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Species associations

The pollinating wasp is Elisabethiella enriquesi (Grandi).[4] The figs are eaten by birds and people.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Ficus ilicina (Sond.) Miq., Synonyms". The Plant List. 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Burring, Jan. "Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Curtis, B., Mannheimer, C. (2005). "Ficus ilicina, Rock-splitting Fig". Tree Atlas of Namibia. National Botanical Research Institute, Windhoek. Archived from the original on 2014-11-19. Retrieved 18 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 Van Noort, S., Rasplus, J. "Ficus ilicina (Sonder) Miquel 1867". Figweb. Iziko Museums. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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