Ficus talbotii King

Chantarasuwan, B., Sungkaew, S., Pruesapan, K., Baas, P. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2019, Ficus pongumphaii (Moraceae), a new species from Thailand, compared with the ambiguous species F. talbotii, Blumea 64 (2), pp. 108-114 : 110-113

Ficus talbotii King — Fig. 3a 1, b1, c1, d1 , 4a 1, b1

Ficus talbotii King (1887) 51,t. 63; Talbot (1911) 511,t. 521; Corner (1965) 19; (1977) 139,t. 14; C.C. Berg (2007) 24; C. C. Berg et al. (2011) 647. — Type : W.A. Talbot 1100 (lecto CAL), India , N. Kanara District .

Ficus pierrei Gagnep. (1927) 93; (1928) 763. — Type: Pierre n° 1676 (holo P), Cambodia, Sonrong Tong , montibus Kéréev, Apr. 1870 .

Ficus calcicola Corner (1960) 392; Kochummen (1978) 142; C.C. Berg & Corner (2005) 636. — Type: M. Nur SFN 34388 (holo SING; iso L), Malay Peninsula, Selangor, Kaching, Batu Takun.

Tree, up to 22 m tall, deciduous, intermittent growth not prominent. Leafy twig 1.5–2 mm thick, glabrous or whitish puberulous or brown subtomentose, periderm flaking off. Leaves spirally arranged to subdistichous, lamina ovate to elliptic, 4.5–9 by 1.5–3.5 cm, apex acuminate, the acumen blunt, base rounded to cuneate, upper surface glabrous or minutely puberulous on midrib and main veins, lower surface glabrous to puberulous or subtomentose on midrib and main veins, lateral veins 6–7 pairs, furcated away from margin, basal pairs ending up to 1/5–1/3 the length of the lamina, usually branching. Petiole 1–1.6 cm long, glabrous or minutely and sparsely puberulous, drying blackish, epidermis persistent. Stipule 0.4–0.5 cm long, caducous, puberulous, brown strigose or subtomentose. Figs in axillary, solitary or in pairs, sessile (or peduncle up to 2 mm long); basal bracts 3, 2–3 mm long, brown puberulous, persistent. Receptacle subglobose (to obovate), 0.6–0.8 cm diam when dry, glabrous or minutely puberulous, apex convex, ostiole c. 2 mm diam, upper ostiolar bracts glabrous; internal hairs absent or few. Staminate flowers dispersed, sessile to pedicellate, tepals 3, ovate, free, red-brown. Pistillate flowers sessile to pedicellate, ovary white with red dot, tepals 3(–4), ovate, obovate or spatulate, free, red-brown.

Distribution & Habitat — Distributed in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, China (Yunnan), Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malay Peninsula. Found in mixed deciduous, evergreen and dry evergreen forests, and on limestone hills, up to 1 100 m elevation.

Specimens examined. CAMBODIA, L. Pierre 1676 ( P), Sonrong Tong,montibus Kéréev, Apr.1870 .– INDIA, K. M. Matthew RHT25340 ( L), Tamilnadu,Na- makkal, Kolli hill, Salem, 21 Dec.1979 .– MALAY PENINSULA, M. Nur SFN34388 ( L, SING), Selangor, Kaching, Batu Takun, 3 Nov. 1937 ; T. C. Whitmore FRI 12162 ( L), Selangor , Anak Takun, 31 July 1968 ; T. C. Whitmore FRI 15633 ( L), Selangor , Batu Caves, 20 Sept. 1970 . – MYANMAR, N. Tanaka , T. Sugawara , S. Sakai , K. Aoki , A. Tanaka , H. Miwa, Than Than Aye, Khin Myo Htwe 021824 ( L), Mandalay, Peik-Chin-Myaung, E96°37'12" N22°05'32", 13 Jan. 2002 . – THAILAND, Put 4024 ( BK, L), Lampang, Maung Ngao, 17 July 1929 ; A.F. G. Kerr 19843 ( BK); Prachin Buri, Kabin Buri, 10 Nov. 1930 ; M. F. Newman , T. Boonthavikoon , C. Hemrat , D . J. Middleton 1148 ( L), Chumphon, Kaw Weing, 11 Jan. 1927 ; A.F. G. Kerr 11376 ( BK), Prachuap Kiri Khan , Pranburi, Sam Roi Yot, 30 June 2000 .

Figures

Fig. 3 Cross sections and cuticular macerations of the leaf laminas of Ficus talbotii King (left column) and Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew (right column). a1. Leaf margin without indumentum of F. talbotii; a2. leaf margin with indumentum of F. pongumphaii; b1. lamina of F. talbotii showing multi-layered epidermis on both sides and enlarged lithocysts on both surfaces; b2. lamina of F. pongumphaii showing multi-layered epidermis on both sides and enlarged lithocysts adaxially; c1. abaxial cuticular maceration of F. talbotii showing few hairs (black arrows); c2. abaxial cuticular maceration of F. pongumphaii showing many hairs; d1. petiole of F. talbotii with few hairs; d2. petiole of F. pongumphaii with an abundant hairs (a1, b1, d1: M. Nur SFN 34388, L; a2, b2, c2: R. Pooma et al. 3820, L; c1: M.F. Newman et al. 1148, L; d2: B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4, THNHM). — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.

Fig. 1 Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew. a. Twig with leaves and figs; b. figs; c. fig in longitudinal section; d. staminate flower; e. stamen; f. sessile pistillate flower; g. pedicelled pistillate flower (B. Chantarasuwan 180910-4, THNHM). — Drawing: Pajaree Inthachup, 2015.

Fig. 4 Free hand paradermal leaf surfaces of Ficus talbotii King (left column) and Ficus pongumphaii Chantaras. & Sungkaew (right column). a1. Abaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. talbotii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows); a2. abaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. pongumphaii showing a few radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) and abundant hairs; b1. adaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. talbotii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) and no indumentum; b2. adaxial paradermal leaf surface of F. pongumphaii showing radiating epidermal cells around lithocysts (black arrows) (a1, b1: M.F. Newman et al. 1148, L; a2, b2: P. Palee 278, L). — Photos by Bhanumas Chantarasuwan.