Ficus pertusa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ficus daphniphylla
• Urostigma complicatum
• Ficus peruviana
• Urostigma cestrifolium var. major
• Urostigma populneum f. mexicanum
• Ficus ochroleuca
• Ficus polypus
• Ficus zarzalensis
• Ficus morantensis
• Urostigma sapidum
• Urostigma sulcipes
• Urostigma subtriplinervium f. major
• Urostigma subtriplinervium f. ellipticum
• Urostigma turbinatum
• Urostigma geminum
• Pharmacosycea laurifolia
• Urostigma erythrostictum
• Pharmacosycea peruviana
• Ficus palmicida
• Urostigma rolandri
• Ficus padifolia
• Urostigma lancifolium
• Ficus myrtifolia
• Urostigma pertusum
• Ficus kanukuensis
• Urostigma padifolium
• Urostigma baccatum
• Ficus ibapohi
• Urostigma arbutifolium
• Ficus grabhamii
• Ficus sapida
• Ficus sonorae
• Urostigma subtriplinervium
• Ficus rolandri
• Ficus prinoides var. subtriplinervia
• Ficus tapajozensis
• Ficus sulcipes
• Ficus subtriplinervia
• Ficus gemina
• Ficus garcesii
• Ficus erythrosticta
• Ficus complicata
• Ficus baccata
• Ficus arpazusa
• Ficus cerasifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Ficus, and its specific name, pertusa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions of Mexico. It can be found throughout the central part of the country in Mexico Central. Additionally, the species inhabits the vast landscapes of Mexico Northeast. Its presence also extends into the coastal areas of Mexico Gulf. Finally, the plant is documented in both the Mexico Northwest and Mexico Southwest regions.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ficus pertusa is characterized by a highly versatile distribution across diverse Brazilian biomes, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (Pluvial), and Restinga. This broad adaptability allows the species to thrive in varied environmental conditions, ranging from semi-arid scrublands to lush, humid rainforests and coastal restingas. In terms of topography, the species exhibits a wide altitudinal tolerance, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL. Despite this expansive range, its distribution is centered around a mean elevation of approximately 295 m AMSL, indicating a preference for lowland to mid-elevation habitats within its various ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

295 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Ficus pertusa is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural strategy that facilitates its development into a substantial woody form. This phanerophyte life form ensures that the plant can withstand various environmental pressures by protecting its vital meristematic tissues, contributing to its long-term survival and continuous life cycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus pertusa is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. It is a self-supporting plant that reaches a mean height of approximately 5 m, though it can achieve a maximum height of up to 20 m. While it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite, it exhibits a hemiepiphyte life strategy, often beginning its life cycle in an epiphytic stage before establishing itself as a terrestrial plant. As a terrestrial species, it does not possess aquatic or semiaquatic characteristics and maintains a robust, self-supporting structure without relying on climbing habits like lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

hemiepiphyte

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus pertusa is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide, a process where the first stable product is a three-carbon molecule, typically occurring under standard environmental conditions without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the biological mechanisms, such as symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it must rely on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus pertusa is driven by complex biological interactions characterized by biotic pollination and zoochorous dispersal. The pollination syndrome is strictly biotic, relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The seeds are produced within fleshy fruits, which serve as a primary mechanism for dispersal via animals (zoochory). The seeds themselves are remarkably minute, maintaining a consistent volume with a minimum, maximum, and mean value of 0.00052 mm³. Through this combination of insect-mediated pollination and animal-assisted seed dispersal, the plant ensures its reproductive success and distribution within its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed volume max:

0.00052 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ficus pertusa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, luteolin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. F1000Research

luteolin

1. F1000Research