Ficus variegata

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comments (2)

Christine Young

Lion

These trees are so awesome in how they are fertilized. They produce three types of flower: one male flower and two types of female flowers. All three flowers are inside the fruit! They rely on a specific species of wasp for pollination, and the wasp itself is also totally dependent on the fig tree in order to breed. Female fig wasps enter a fig and lay eggs on the short-styled female flowers while also pollinating the long-styled female flowers. Then, wingless male fig wasps hatch from the eggs, inseminate the emerging females, and then bore exit holes for the winged females.

Also, interesting is that the fig trees in an area bloom asynchronously - they need flowers in bloom at different times in order to support the populations of wasps, which would otherwise die out.

I once watched an entire documentary about fig wasps and it was actually riveting :-D Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, Christine for the additional info, very interesting.
  I have came across many variety of Ficus with similar looking fruits both in Malaysia and Philippines, but wasn't exactly sure of the IDs though. Posted 6 years ago

The Ficus variegata

''Ficus variegata'' is a well distributed species of tropical fig tree. It occurs in many parts of Asia, islands of the Pacific and as far south east as Australia. There is a large variety of local common names including common red stem fig, green fruited fig and variegated fig. A non strangling fig which may reach 30 metres in height. In Australia the fruit are eaten by cassowaries and double-eyed fig parrots.

Info 9 0

Similar species: Rosales

Species identified by Albert Kang

By Albert Kang

Uploaded Sep 22, 2018. Captured Sep 21, 2018 14:01.

Explore Hong Kong 112 74 0

TG-5
f/6.3
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ISO250
18mm