Ficus ilicina

Laurel fig
In the Naukluft, Namibia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Urostigma
Species:
F. ilicina
Binomial name
Ficus ilicina
(Sond.) Miq. (1864)
Synonyms
  • Ficus guerichiana Engl.
  • Urostigma ilicinum Sond.

The Laurel fig (Ficus ilicina) is a species of rock-splitting fig that is native to the semi-desert regions of southwestern Africa in Angola, Namibia, and the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is only found on rocks, up to an elevation of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).

Description

It is generally a scrambler on rocks, but also a medium-sized shrub, or rarely a large tree of 5 m (16 ft) tall or more. It is mostly evergreen, though a few are bare in spring, just before new foliage emerges. The elliptic leaves are more than twice as long as they are wide, shiny above and matte below. The sessile or stalked figs are produced in the summer months. They are about 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter and appear in the leaf axils near the branch tips.

Range

It occurs in southwestern Angola, the Namibian escarpment and Khomas hochland, and in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Species associations

The pollinating wasp is Elisabethiella enriquesi (Grandi). The figs are eaten by birds and people.

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2020). "Ficus ilicina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T146435271A146443496. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T146435271A146443496.en. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Ficus ilicina (Sond.) Miq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Burring, Jan. "Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Curtis, B., Mannheimer, C. (2005). "Ficus ilicina, Rock-splitting Fig". Tree Atlas of Namibia. National Botanical Research Institute, Windhoek. Retrieved 18 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 Van Noort, S., Rasplus, J. "Ficus ilicina (Sonder) Miquel 1867". Figweb. Iziko Museums. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)