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Ficus salicifolia

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Ficus salicifolia Ficus salicifolia FigWeb

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Ficus abutilifolia, Ficus ingens, Ficus sur, Desert fig, Ficus neriifolia

The Wonderboom (Ficus salicifolia) is an evergreen fig species that ranges from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands northwards to tropical East Africa. It grows especially on outcrops, rocky hillsides and along cliffs fringing water courses and may rarely grow up to 10 m tall, and acquire a leafy spreading crown.

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Ficus salicifolia Ficus salicifolia FigWeb

Description

Ficus salicifolia httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The elliptic-oblong, leathery leaves of about 7 to 10 cm long, are carried on long petioles, and are often noticeably folded along the midrib. The leaf sides are almost parallel and clear net-veining is visible on the lamina. Leaves are brittle and have a characteristic smell when broken or bruised. The leaves are toxic and cause nervous disorders or even deaths in cattle.

Ficus salicifolia Ficus salicifolia FigWeb

The small, smooth figs are carried on short stalks and measure about 4-6 mm in diameter. They are massed along the branchlets in the leaf axils, and change from white to yellowish-red and spotted as they ripen. The figs are eaten by birds and mammals.

Similar species

Ficus salicifolia Tsammalex Ficus salicifolia Willowleaved fig

It may be confused with the similar but deciduous Ficus ingens which grows in similar habitat. The latter has somewhat larger, white to purple figs, and deep red fresh foliage. The Wonderboom fig is sometimes deemed a race of Ficus cordata, i.e. F. c. subsp. salicifolia (Vahl) C.C.Berg, though the latter species has yellowish sessile figs and a more westerly distribution.

Distribution and habitat

Ficus salicifolia Ficus cordata salicifolia Willowleafed fig TopTropicalscom

It occurs in the Saharo-montane woodlands of the Tassili n'Ajjer, the Hoggar, Aïr and Tibesti mountains, the Kerkour Nourene massif and at Elba mountain in the Red Sea Hills. It is widespread in the eastern Afrotropics, from southern Arabia and Socotra to the KwaZulu-Natal midlands of South Africa.

The Wonderboom grove

Ficus salicifolia Ficus salicifolia Wikiwand

It is named after the Wonderboom grove in Pretoria, that has spread from a central bole that was carbon dated to about 1,000 years old. The Wonderboom is an extraordinary specimen for its size and structure, and its drooping branches are continuing to root and form new trees.

Ecology

The pollinator wasp is Platyscapa awekei Wiebes., while non-pollinating wasps include Otitesella serrata Mayr and O. pseudoserrata van Noort.

References

Ficus salicifolia Wikipedia