About Ficus septica Burm.fil.
Ficus septica Burm.fil. is a tree or shrub that grows up to 25 meters tall. Its latex is characteristically yellow. Both leaves and petioles are glabrous. The leaves are symmetric, and shaped elliptic to oblong. Figs most often grow in pairs, though they may also be solitary or occur in groups of up to four. The figs are shaped depressed-globose to ellipsoid, with a flat or concave apex. Seven to twelve ribs run toward the ostiole. Whitish to yellowish dots develop on the fig when it reaches maturity. Individuals from the Philippines have stems covered in short hairs, while specimens found in Taiwan have glabrous stems. Ficus septica grows up to 1800 meters elevation in montane forests or secondary growth environments, and is frequently seen along rivers. At the northern limit of its distribution in Taiwan, this species grows up to 500 meters elevation in secondary growths, along roads, and on coastlines. Ficus septica is pollinated by fig wasps from the genus Ceratosolen, the most well-documented of which is C. bisulcatus. Usually, each Ficus species is pollinated by a single species of specific pollinating fig wasp, but recent observations of Ficus septica have found three pollinating species in southern Taiwan and two in the Philippines. The figs of Ficus septica have been reported to be eaten by 22 animal species, 14 of which are bats.
