septic fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• septic fig
• Angular fruit fig
• Hauili fig tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cystogyne leucosticta
• Covellia leucopleura
• Covellia radiata
• Covellia venosa
• Ficus philippense
• Ficus laxiramea
• Covellia leucantatoma
• Ficus septica var. cauliflora
• Covellia stictocarpa
• Ficus septica var. salicifolia
• Ficus radiata
• Covellia rapiformis
• Ficus rapiformis
• Ficus eburnea
• Ficus stictocarpa
• Ficus kaukauensis
• Ficus leucotoma
• Ficus leucopleura
• Ficus leucantatoma
• Ficus hauilii
• Ficus oldhamii
• Ficus paludosa
• Ficus didymophylla
• Ficus geminifolia
• Ficus casearia
• Ficus brunnea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and family Moraceae, it is classified under the genus Ficus. As a member of this genus, Ficus septica follows a specific evolutionary lineage characterized by its unique botanical structure.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions in Asia. In Eastern Asia, its presence is noted within the Nansei-shoto islands and throughout Taiwan. Moving into the Malesia region, the species can be found inhabiting the island of Borneo. Its range further extends to the island of Jawa, illustrating its adaptability to various tropical environments. Finally, the distribution reaches the Lesser Sunda Islands, completing its presence across these maritime territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ficus septica is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, meaning it maintains its biological functions and structural presence over many years rather than completing its cycle within a single growing season. As a long-lived woody plant, it establishes a persistent root system and a robust structural framework that allows it to endure through various seasonal shifts. Its developmental trajectory involves a prolonged vegetative phase where it builds biomass, followed by recurring reproductive cycles facilitated by its unique fig structures. Unlike annuals or biennials that have a finite lifespan, this perennial plant exhibits continuous growth patterns and the ability to regenerate and reproduce multiple times throughout its extended existence.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus septica is characterized by its diverse growth forms, ranging from a shrub to a substantial tree. As a woody species, it exhibits a robust structure that can reach a minimum height of 10 meters, with an average height of approximately 15 meters, and a maximum potential height of up to 25 meters. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, functioning as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or an epiphyte. Its growth habit is primarily defined by its woody nature and its ability to maintain a self-supporting stature within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus septica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The vegetative morphology is defined by its leaf dimensions, which show significant variability; the leaves typically exhibit a mean length of 20.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 26 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean of 12 cm, with a minimum measurement of 10 cm and a maximum width reaching up to 14 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external nitrogen sources within the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

26 cm

Leaf length mean:

20.5 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width mean:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus septica is characterized by a specialized biotic pollination syndrome, relying primarily on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This reproductive process results in the development of fleshy fruits, which serve as a medium for seed dispersal. The seeds produced are uniform in size, maintaining a consistent seed volume with a minimum, maximum, and mean measurement of 0.37 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed volume max:

0.37 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ficus septica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
3. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ficus septica has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 10R,13aR-Tylocrebrine N-oxide, 10R,13aR-Tylophorine N-oxide, 10S,13aR-isotylocrebrine N-oxide, 10S,13aR-tylocrebrine N-oxide, 10S,13aS-Isotylocrebrine N-oxide.

10R,13aR-Tylocrebrine N-oxide

1. Journal of natural products

10R,13aR-Tylophorine N-oxide

1. Journal of natural products

10S,13aR-isotylocrebrine N-oxide

1. Journal of natural products

10S,13aR-tylocrebrine N-oxide

1. Journal of natural products

10S,13aS-Isotylocrebrine N-oxide

1. Journal of natural products

FICUSEPTAMINE C

1. Journal of natural products

METHYL PALMITATE

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

METHYL STEARATE

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Myristic acid vinyl ester

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Phytol

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Activities

Ficus septica has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Nephroprotective.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Cytotoxic

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Nephroprotective

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Conditions

Ficus septica has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, breast cancer, cell migration.

Cancer

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. Journal of natural products

Breast cancer

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Cell migration

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Preparations

Ficus septica has 5 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EFS, methanol extract, methanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus septica, methanolic leaf extracts, n-hexane insoluble fraction of the ethanolic extract of F. septica leaves.

Efs

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic extract of the leaves of ficus septica

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic leaf extracts

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

N-hexane insoluble fraction of the ethanolic extract of f. septica leaves

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP