Ficus crassiuscula

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Ficus crassiuscula
Scientific classification edit
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
Warb. ex Standl.[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Ficus boyacensis Dugand
  • Ficus crassa Klotzsch & H.Karst. ex Dugand

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).[2]

Taxonomy[]

Ficus crassiuscula was first described in 1917.[1] In the 1960 Flora of Panama Gordon P. DeWolf Jr. considered this species to be a synonym of the non-climbing F. insipida,[3] but this taxonomic interpretation has not been followed by subsequent authorities.[2]

With about 750 species, Ficus (Moraceae) is one of the largest angiosperm genera.[4] F. insipida is classified in subgenus Pharmacosycea, section Pharmacosycea, subsection Bergianae, along with F. adhatodifolia, , F. gigantosyce, F. insipida, F. lapathifolia, , (spec. nov.? ined.), , , and F. yoponensis.[5] 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.[6]

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.[5][7]

It has dimorphic leaves: the leaves of this species change in shape as it progresses from a juvenile to a mature plant.[5][7]

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.[8]

Ecology[]

It is found in lower montane rainforests.[7] In Costa Rica, F. crassiuscula is found in cloud forest above 1550 meters in altitude.[8] 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 and , and it is also frequently found on already-dead trees.[7]

Monkeys feed on fruits while they are still on the tree, and the fallen fruits are eaten by peccaries.[8]

Uses[]

The wood is soft, but it is used for construction purposes where durability is not important.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Ficus crassiuscula Warb. ex Standl.", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2020-10-09
  2. ^ a b c "Ficus crassiuscula Warb. ex Standl.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-10-09
  3. ^ 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. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–776. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449.
  5. ^ a b c Berg, C. C. (2006). "The subdivision of Ficus subgenus Pharmacosycea Section Pharmacosycea (Moraceae)". Blumea. 51 (1): 147–151. doi:10.3767/000651906x622409.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d 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.
  8. ^ a b c d Haber, William (2000). An Introduction to Cloud Forest Trees. Monteverde de Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Mountain Gem Publications. ISBN 9977124183.


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