Flora Zambesiaca

Taxon Detail

FZ volume:9 part:6 (1991) Moraceae by C. C. Berg

(Search other Kew databases for: Ficus natalensis)

Ficus natalensis Hochst.

in Flora 28: 88 (1845). ?Hutch. in F.T.A. 6, 2: 208 (1917); in F.C. 5, 2: 538 (1925). ?Keay in F.W.T.A. ed. 2,1: 610 (1958). ?F. White, F.F.N.R.: 34 (1962). ?K. Coates Palgrave, Trees Southern Africa: 110 (1977). ?C.C. Berg et al. in Fl. Cameroun 28: 184, t. 63 (1985). ?C.C. Berg in Kew Bull.43: 87 (1988); in F.T.E.A., Moraceae: 71 (1989); in Kirkia 13: 266 (1990). Lectotype from S. Africa, chosen by Berg in F.T.E.A., Moraceae: 71 (1989).

Synonyms:

Urostigma natalense (Hochst.) Miq.

in Hook., Lond. Journ. Bot. 6: 556 (1847).

Description:

Tree up to 30 m. tall, or a shrub, hemi-epiphytic or secondarily terrestrial, sometimes semi-scandent. Leafy twigs 2?5 mm. thick, glabrous or sparsely minutely puberulous, periderm not flaking off. Leaves spirally arranged, or ± distichous, often subopposite; lamina oblong to elliptic or obovate to broadly obtriangular, occasionally lanceolate, 2.5?10 x 1?4.5 cm., subcoriaceous; apex shortly acuminate to obtuse or subacute to rounded or emarginate; base acute to obtuse; margin entire; both surfaces glabrous; lateral veins 6?13 pairs, midrib usually not reaching the apex of the lamina, tertiary venation reticulate or ± parallel to the lateral veins; petiole 5?20(30) mm. long, 1?2(2.5) mm. thick, glabrous; stipules 2?10 mm. long, glabrous or puberulous, caducous. Figs in pairs in the leaf axils or sometimes also just below the leaves, initially enclosed by a calyptrate bud cover, up to 1.5 cm. long, subovoid and ± glabrous; peduncle 2?10 mm. long; basal bracts 1.5?2.5 mm. long, caducous sometimes subpersistent. Receptacle often shortly stipitate, at least when dry, globose to ellipsoid or obovoid, c. 1.5?2 cm. in diam. when fresh, 0.8?1.5 cm. in diam. when dry, glabrous, reddish-orange or yellowish (to brown) at maturity; wall (rather thin) usually wrinkled when dry, apex plane or slightly protruding.