Английская Википедия:Ficus sansibarica
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Speciesbox
The Ficus sansibarica, known as knobbly fig, is an African species of cauliflorous fig. It is named after Zanzibar, where Franz Stuhlmann discovered it in 1889.[1] They often begin life as epiphytes, which assume a strangling habit as they develop.[2] They regularly reach 10 m, but may grow up to 40 m tall as forest stranglers.[3]
Range and habitat
It occurs in the African tropics and subtropics from coastal elevations to 900 m above sea level.[4] The nominate subspecies has an easterly distribution, but extends westwards up the Zambezi Valley.[5]
They are found in coastal, riverine and evergreen forests or woodland, and in miombo woodlands. They are locally cultivated in parks,[5] villages[2] or bush camps. They prefer deep sandy soil and often start life as a strangler.[6][7] The pollinating wasp is Courtella armata.[4]
Description
The light grey bark is fairly smooth, though lumpy and folded.[3] The smooth leaves are up to 13 cm long and oblong-obovate.[7] They have parallel sides and are carried on slender petioles.[3]
The large (up to 5 cm), bitter-tasting figs appear in groups of 2 or 3 during the summer months.[3] They are cauliflorous, growing on the characteristic wart-like, leafless branchlets on the trunk and main branches (i.e. old wood).[6]
F. chirindensis of the forests of southeastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique is similar, but has the leaves more oval, often has buttress roots,[6] and bears the small (1.5 cm) figs in stalked pairs on second year branches.[3]
Uses
The raw figs are used for food, and are locally believed to promote fertility. Stems are torn apart to obtain fibers for basket weaving.[2] Locally it is also deemed sacred.
Subspecies and status
- F. s. subsp. sansibarica – East Africa: southern Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, northeastern South Africa and Eswatini
- F. s. subsp. macrosperma (Warb. ex Mildbr. & Burret) C.C.Berg – West and Central Africa: Senegal to DRC, Uganda and Angola
The species is deemed critically endangered in Eswatini, where most are located in proposed sugar cane expansion areas near Sihoye.[8] On Inhaca Island however, it is held sacred by most communities, and is scrupulously protected.[1]
Gallery
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Foliage
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Figs on wart-like branchlets
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Figs carried on spurs
References
External links
- Страницы с неработающими файловыми ссылками
- Английская Википедия
- Ficus
- Trees of Africa
- Afrotropical realm flora
- Flora of Kenya
- Flora of Malawi
- Flora of Mozambique
- Flora of the Northern Provinces
- Flora of Tanzania
- Flora of Zimbabwe
- Plants described in 1894
- Страницы, где используется шаблон "Навигационная таблица/Телепорт"
- Страницы с телепортом
- Википедия
- Статья из Википедии
- Статья из Английской Википедии
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