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Ficus montana Burm.f.
| Family Name: | Moraceae |
| Synonyms: | Ficus ampelos f. microcarpa, Ficus quercifolia, Ficus purpurascens, Ficus humilis, Ficus sclerocoma, Ficus madurensis, Ficus sangumae |
Ficus montana is a shrub with variable leaf shapes from oblong to elliptic to irregularly lobed, and has strong red pigmentation on the undersides of the leaves. Its figs turn from orange to dark red upon maturity.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaya, Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sumatra |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A shrub often growing flat on the ground (prostrate), can grow up to 1 m tall if growing erect. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are spirally arranged, leaf blade is variable in shapes from oblong to elliptic (sometimes lanceolate to linear-lanceolate and irregularly lobed), measuring 8 - 24 cm long by 2 - 10 cm wide, having papery (chartaceous) texture. Leaf apex is acuminate to subacute, while the base is cuneate, rounded or subcordate, and has crenate-dentate to subentire leaf edges (margin). |
| Fruit | Figs are located along the leaf axils, can be in pairs or solitary, or clustered on spurs in the leaf axils and below the leaves. The nearly round-shaped figs turn orange to dark red when ripen. |
| Habitat | It is found growing in evergreen and dry evergreen forests, edges and streams, at an altitude of 1,300 m. <1> |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Plant has ornamental leaves of green on the uppersides, and red on the undersides which makes the plant a stunning addition in parks and gardens. The orange to dark red figs are also an attractive feature of the plant. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits, Ornamental Foliage |
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Papery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Elliptical, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Crenate, Dentate, Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse, Cordate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Location | Axillary |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Multiple Fruit |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
References
| References | <1> e-Flora of Thailand. Ficus montana. Vol.10. 2011:546 |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33809 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8225 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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