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Ficus kochummeniana C.C.Berg

Family Name:	Moraceae
Synonyms:	Ficus retusa var. borneensis Corner

Growing to 30 m tall, Ficus kochummeniana is a strangler fig tree with dark brown hairs on the underside of the leaves. At maturity, the round figs turn orange to red, and are subtended by persistent dark brown bracts.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	30 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a strangler fig, up to 30 m tall. When injured, the plant exudates white sticky latex.
Foliage	Spirally arranged on the branches, the leaves are leathery and egg-shaped to oblong (4 – 18 cm long and 1.5 – 7.5 cm wide). Each leaf has 6 – 8 pairs of lateral veins. The pair of lateral veins near the leaf base is distinct and up to 1/3 – 1/2 (– 2/3) the length of the leaf blade. The tertiary venation is prominent and net-like. Waxy glands are present at the base of the midrib. The underside of the leaf is covered densely with very short soft hairs on the midrib while the lateral veins are covered with dark brown flattened hairs. The leaf tip is pointed (acuminate) to rounded while the leaf base is cuneate to obtuse. The petiole is 0.5 – 2.5 cm long and covered densely with very short soft hairs. The stipules are 1 – 2.5 cm long, hairy and may be sub-persistent or falling off early.
Flowers	The plant is dioecious with each plant bearing male or female flowers. The flowers are tiny and develop within the syconium (fig).

Fruit	The figs are sessile and occur at the axis in clusters of 1 – 2. Each fig has 3 bracts present at the base. These bracts are 0.3 – 0.5 cm long, covered with dark brown hairs and persistent. The figs are almost round and slightly flattened at the tip. At maturity, they turn orange to red. The ostiole is circular (0.25 – 0.3 cm diameter) and surrounded by a rim. The ostiole is closed by overlapping bracts where only the highly specialized pollinators can enter. The ovary is reddish to whitish.
Habitat	It grows in lowland peat swamp forest.
Similar	The leaf tip, venation, petiole and stipules are key features that set Ficus kochummeniana apart from Ficus retusa. F. kochummeniana has pointed to rounded leaf tip, 6 – 8 pairs of lateral veins, 0.5 – 2.5 cm long petiole and sub-persistent to caducous stipules. On the other hand, F. retusa has rounded leaf tip, 3 – 6 pairs of lateral veins, 0.5 – 1 cm long petiole and stipules that falls out early.
Associated Fauna	It is pollinated by fig wasps. Fruits are eaten and dispersed by birds and small mammals.
Etymology	The genus Ficus, in Latin, refers to the commercial edible fig (Ficus carica). The specific epithet honors K.M. Kochummen (1931 – 1999), a Malaysian botanist, who has contributed significantly to the botanical knowledge of the region.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils, Waterlogged Soils

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green

References

References	Berg, C.C. (2004). Flora Malesiana precursor for the treatment of Moraceae 7: Ficus subgenus Urostigma. Blumea 49: 463–480. Berg, C.C., and Corner, E.J.H. (2005). Moraceae: Ficeae. In Nooteboom, H.P. (ed) Flora Malesiana, Ser. 1, Vol. 17 Part 2, pp. vi – 730. Leiden: Nationaal Herbarium Nederland. Berg, C.C., Pattharahirantricin, N., and Chantarasuwan, B. (2011). Moraceae. In Santisuk, T. & Larsen, K. (eds.) Flora of Thailand 10(4): 469-675. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

References

Berg, C.C. (2004). Flora Malesiana precursor for the treatment of Moraceae 7: Ficus subgenus Urostigma. Blumea 49: 463–480.
Berg, C.C., and Corner, E.J.H. (2005). Moraceae: Ficeae. In Nooteboom, H.P. (ed) Flora Malesiana, Ser. 1, Vol. 17 Part 2, pp. vi – 730. Leiden: Nationaal Herbarium Nederland.
Berg, C.C., Pattharahirantricin, N., and Chantarasuwan, B. (2011). Moraceae. In Santisuk, T. & Larsen, K. (eds.) Flora of Thailand 10(4): 469-675. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

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Master ID	33589
Species ID	8003
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 18 August 2022.