Ficus jambiensis C.C.Berg, 2012

Berg, C., 2012, Seven new Malesian species of Ficus (Moraceae), Blumea 57 (2), pp. 147-157 : 157

Ficus jambiensis C.C.Berg , sp. nov. — Fig. 7

Ficu litseifoliae similis, petiolis et bracteis basalibus longioribus, ficibus sessilibus,ostiolo annulo circumcinto differt. — Typus: Morley & Kardin 445 (holo L), Indonesia, Sumatra, Jambi, Kerinci, lake Gunung Tujuh , 2000 m, 11–14 Aug. 1972 .

Tree 10 –15 m tall. Leafy twigs 4 –5 mm thick,± densely white appressed-puberulous to strigillose; periderm persistent. Leaves spirally arranged; lamina coriaceous, oblong to elliptic, 5 –16 by 2.5 –7.5 cm, apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, margin entire; upper surface whitish to yellowish hirtellous to strigillose, scabridulous, lower surface yellowish to whitish puberulous to subsericeous on the main veins and to tomentose on the smaller veins, smooth; lateral veins 5 –7 pairs, the basal pair to 1/4–1/3 the length of the lamina, branched, tertiary venation (sub)scalariform; waxy glands present in the axils of the basal lateral veins; petiole 1–4.5 cm long, 1–2 mm thick, yellowish puberulous, the epidermis persistent; stipules c. 0.6 cm long, yellowish appressed-puberulous to subsericeous, caducous. Figs axillary, sessile: basal bracts 2 –2.5 cm long, yellowish appressed-puberulous; receptacle subglobose, c. 0.8 cm diam when dry, sparsely minutely yellowish appressed-puberulous towards the apex, colour at maturity unknown, ostiole 2.5–3 mm diam, surrounded by a rim, upper ostiolar bracts hairy; internal hairs present; tepals dark red, glabrous.

Distribution — South-eastern Sumatra, the species is only known from its type collection.

Habitat — In montane forest.

Note — The new species resembles both F. litseifolia Corner (a species of montane forest in Sumatra,Atjeh) and F. oreophila Ridl. (a montane species of Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand) but is clearly distinct in the sessile figs with the ostiole surrounded by a rim; moreover, the petiole extends the maximum length of that of the two species and the basal bracts are longer. These three species constitute a set of closely related montane species, which also may include F. cambodica Gagnep. , see Berg (2007b).

Figures

Fig. 7 Ficus jambiensis C.C.Berg. Leafy twigs with figs (Morley & Kardin 445, L).