Ficus tinctoria, also known as dye fig, or humped fig is a hemiepiphytic tree of genus Ficus. It is also one of the species known as strangler fig.[3]

It is found in Asia, Malesia, northern Australia, and the South Pacific islands.[3] It grows in moist valleys.[4]

Palms are favorable host species. Root systems of dye fig can come together to be self sustaining but the epiphyte usually falls if the host tree dies or rots away.[5]

In Australia it is recorded as a medium-sized tree with smooth, oval green leaves.[3] It is found often growing in rocky areas or over boulders.[3] The leaves are asymmetrical.[6]

The small rust brown fruit of the dye fig are the source of a red dye used in traditional fabric making in parts of Oceania and Indonesia.

The fruit is also edible and constitute as a major food source in the low-lying atolls of Micronesia and Polynesia.[7]

Subspecies

Ficus tinctoria subsp. gibbosa is an accepted subspecies.[8]

Gallery

  • Ficus tinctoria
    Ficus tinctoria
  • Ficus tinctoria
    Ficus tinctoria
  • Ficus tinctoria
    Ficus tinctoria
  • Ficus tinctoria
    Ficus tinctoria
  • Ficus tinctoria
    Ficus tinctoria

References

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Ficus tinctoria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T143277299A143295549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T143277299A143295549.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "The Plant List: F. tinctoria". Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ficus tinctoria". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Ficus tinctoria in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  5. ^ Liu W., Wang P., Li J., Liu Wenyao, and Li Hongmei (2014), Plasticity of source‐water acquisition in epiphytic, transitional and terrestrial growth phases of Ficus tinctoria, Ecohydrol., 7; pages 1524–1533, doi:10.1002/eco.1475
  6. ^ Janet Franklin; Gunnar Keppel; W. Arthur Whistler (2008). "The vegetation and flora of Lakeba, Nayau and Aiwa Islands, Central Lau Group, Fiji" (PDF). Micronesica. 40: 169–225. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-13.
  7. ^ "Mati - Te Māra Reo". termarareo.org. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Plant List: F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa". Retrieved 22 April 2018.

External links