About Ficus benguetensis Merr.
Ficus benguetensis Merr. is a tree or shrub that grows up to 15 meters tall. Characteristically, its new leaves are reddish or orange before they mature. Mature leaves are symmetric, and shaped elliptic to oblong. Figs have different growth patterns depending on tree sex: on male trees, figs often grow from stipules that emerge from the trunk, while on female trees, figs grow in pairs on apical branches. Fig shape ranges from subglobose to ellipsoid or ovoid, with a flat or concave apex. Unripe figs are green on the outside and pink to reddish pink on the inside, turning yellowish green when they reach maturity. This species grows in humid, closed forests at altitudes up to 1800 meters, and it is most often found along streams and small rivers. Ecologically, Ficus benguetensis is pollinated by fig wasps from the genus Ceratosolen, and its seeds are dispersed by birds and fruit bats. In one area south of Taipei, as many as 13 different ant species have been recorded on the figs of this species. This is also the first described Ficus species confirmed to have extrafloral nectaries located directly on its figs. Two species of nonpollinating, parasitic fig wasps — Philotrypesis taida and Sycorycteridea taipeiensis — have recently been described from samples collected from Ficus benguetensis.
