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Ficus pumila

Diagnostic description 2

Ficus pumila L., Sp. Pl. 1060. 1753.

Fig. 127. D-L

Plant with the juvenile phase morphologically different from the adult phase. Juvenile plant attaining several meters in length, much branched, climbing by means of adventitious roots; stems flattened; leaves 1.5-2.5 cm long, ovate to oblong, retuse at the apex, very closely spaced. Adult plant developing into a much branched liana, with adventitious roots, attainig 10 m in length and produces abundant white latex when wounded. Stems flattened, striate, tomentose, glabrescent when mature, with short pendulous branches. Leaves alternate, simple, 4-7 × 2.2-4 cm, oblong, oblanceolate, ovate, or elliptical, the apex obtuse, the base subcordiform, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, with the venation notably lighter; lower surface light green, dull, with prominent reticulate venation; petioles 1.3-1.6 cm long, flattened on the upper surface, pubescent, light brown; stipules oblong-lanceolate to subulate, persistent, 1-1.2 cm long, brown, sericeous. Syconium green, pyriform, up to 6 cm long, soft. Apparently not forming seeds in Puerto Rico.

Phenology: Collected in ‘flower’ during February.

Status: Exotic, ornamental, common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 9336; 9459.

Distribution 3

Distribution: A plant widely cultivated in Puerto Rico.

Public Forests: El Yunque and Maricao.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Ahmad Fuad Morad, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/adaduitokla/6119370071/
  2. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435445
  3. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435899

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