Species: Ficus tinctoria
English Name: Gibbous Fig
Chinese Name: 斜葉榕
Family: Moraceae
Description:
Trees, small trees, or shrubs, sometimes epiphytic. Bark slightly coarse. Branchlets brown. Stipules subulate-lanceolate, 5-10 mm, thick. Leaves distichous; petiole thick, 8-10 mm; leaf blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, asymmetric, 3-13 × 2.5-6 cm, larger in juvenile plants, ± leathery to stiffly leathery, abaxially slightly rough, glabrous, base broadly cuneate to ± cordate, margin entire or toothed, apex obtuse to acute; venation abaxially conspicuous, not dark brown when dry; basal lateral veins short, secondary veins 5-8 on each side of midvein, and prominent on both surfaces. Figs axillary on normal leafy shoots, solitary or paired, globose to globose-pear-shaped, or ± pear-shaped, 8-10 mm in diam., with sparse small tubercles, slightly rough, base attenuate into stalk, apical pore navel-like; peduncle very short; involucral bracts ovate, margin revolute when dry. Male flowers: near apical pore; calyx lobes 4-6, white, linear; stamen 1; rudimentary ovary present. Gall flowers: calyx lobes 4-6, similar to male flowers; ovary obliquely ovoid; style lateral. Female flowers: calyx lobes 4, thin, transparent, linear; style persistent, lateral, short; stigma enlarged. Achenes ellipsoid, keeled, with tubercles. Fl. and fr. winter to Jul.
Photos used under a Creative Commons license
References:
– Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (2003). Flora of China, Volume 5: Ulmaceae through Basellaceae. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis