Ficus neriifolia

Ficus neriifolia is a species of fig (Ficus). It is native to Asia, including Bhutan, Burma, China, India, and Nepal.[1]

Ficus neriifolia
var. nemoralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Genus:	Ficus
Subgenus:	F. subg. Ficus
Species:	F. neriifolia
Binomial name
Ficus neriifolia Sm.
Synonyms
Ficus fieldingii Miquel Ficus gemella Wallich ex Miquel Ficus nemoralis Wallich ex Miquel Ficus nemoralis var. fieldingii (Miquel) King Ficus nemoralis var. gemella (Wallich ex Miquel) King Ficus nemoralis var. trilepis (Miquel) King Ficus neriifolia var. fieldingii (Miquel) Corner Ficus neriifolia var. nemoralis (Wallich ex Miquel) Corner Ficus neriifolia var. trilepis (Miquel) Corner Ficus trilepis Miquel Ficus wardii C. E. C. Fischer

Description

Ficus neriifolia grows as a tree up to 15 m (50 ft) tall with smooth, dark grey bark on its trunk. The hairless, leathery oval to lanceolate (spear-shaped) leaves are up to 8–18 cm (3 ¹⁄₄–7 in) long by 3–6.5 cm (1 ¹⁄₈–2 ¹⁄₂ in) wide, and often asymmetrical in shape. The 8–10 cm (3 ¹⁄₄–4 in) diameter figs are rounded, oval, or cylindrical and grow in pairs off older branches.[1]

Taxonomy

James Edward Smith described Ficus neriifolia in 1810.

In 1965, E.H.Corner regarded the species as having three valid varieties : F. neriifolia var. nemoralis, F. neriifolia var. fieldingii and F. neriifolia var. trilepis. However, Wu and colleagues did not treat them as distinct in 2003. Chaudhary and colleagues observed that the receptacles are distinct and hence further investigation is needed.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Ficus neriifolia is found in Mêdog County in southern Tibet and western Yunnan province in China, as well as Bhutan, Myanmar,[1] central and western Nepal,[3] northeastern India including Sikkim,[1] Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Uttar Pradesh.[2]

It grows in forests of both coniferous and broadleaved trees at elevations of 1,700–2,900 m (5,600–9,500 ft) above sea level in China,[1] and 500–2,200 m (1,600–7,200 ft) above sea level in India.[2]

Ecology

The figs and leaves are eaten by the endangered black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) in Yunnan province, particularly between May and September where it is the most commonly eaten plant species.[4] It is also an important food item of the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys)[5]

Uses

Ficus neriifolia as bonsai, San Diego

The foliage of Ficus neriifolia is used as fodder and its wood used as fuel in Nepal. The juice of the stem bark is used as a folk remedy for conjunctivitis and boils[3] This fig tree is considered good for indoor bonsai in temperate climates, and it is easily shaped and pruned.[6]

References

1. Ficus neriifolia. Flora of China.
2. Chaudhary, Lal; Babu, Jana Venkata Sudhakar; Anoop Kumar; Omesh Bajpai; Rinkey Tiwari & G. V. S. Murthy (2012). "Synopsis of the genus Ficus L.(Moraceae) in India". Taiwania. 57 (2): 193–216 [196].
3. Kunwar, Ripu M.; Rainer W. Bussmann (2006). "Ficus (Fig) species in Nepal: a review of diversity and indigenous uses" (PDF). Lyonia. 11 (1): 85–97.
4. Fan, Pengfei; Qingyong Ni; Guozheng Sun; Bei Huang & Xuelong Jiang (2009). "Gibbons under seasonal stress: the diet of the black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) on Mt. Wuliang, Central Yunnan, China". Primates. 50 (1): 37–44. doi:10.1007/s10329-008-0114-1. PMID 19020947. S2CID 11538411.
5. Zhang, Dao; Han-Lan Fei; Sheng-Dong Yuan; Wen-Mo Sun; Qing-Yong Ni; Liang-Wei Cui & Peng-Fei Fan (2014). "Ranging behavior of eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) in a northern montane forest in Gaoligongshan, Yunnan, China". Primates. 55 (2): 239–47. doi:10.1007/s10329-013-0394-y. PMID 24220849. S2CID 18903755.
6. Derderian, C. T. Subtropical Bonsai for Indoor Gardening. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. 1976.