small figtree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• small figtree
• Common Wild Fig

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ficus bongoensis
• Ficus dusenii
• Ficus acrocarpa
• Ficus acrocarpa var. saligna
• Ficus hochstetteri
• Ficus schimperi var. hochstetteri
• Ficus acrocarpa var. ellipticifolia
• Ficus goetzei
• Ficus cognata
• Urostigma dekdekena
• Urostigma thonningii
• Urostigma schimperi
• Ficus hochstetteri var. glabior
• Urostigma acrocarpum
• Ficus spragueana
• Urostigma burkei
• Ficus crassipedicellata f. angustifolia
• Urostigma hochstetteri
• Ficus tropophyton
• Ficus crassipedicellata f. boonei
• Ficus schinziana
• Ficus crassipedicellata var. cuneata
• Ficus schimperi
• Ficus ruficeps
• Ficus saligna
• Ficus rokko
• Ficus rhodesiaca
• Ficus psilopoga
• Ficus pubicosta
• Ficus phillipsii
• Ficus petersii
• Ficus persicifolia
• Ficus mammigera
• Ficus medullaris
• Ficus mabifolia
• Ficus mabifolia
• Ficus iteophylla
• Ficus kagerensis
• Ficus chlamydodora
• Ficus butaguensis
• Ficus burkei
• Ficus basarensis
• Ficus bequaertii
• Ficus annobonensis
• Ficus cyphocarpa
• Ficus dinteri
• Ficus dekdekena
• Ficus crassipedicellata
• Ficus eriocarpa
• Ficus erici-rosenii
• Ficus dissocarpa
• Ficus galpinii
• Ficus persicifolia var. angustifolia
• Ficus persicifolia var. glabripes
• Ficus thonningii var. heterophylla
• Ficus dekdekena var. angustifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed under the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Ficus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and Atlantic regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to the mainland, it is widely spread throughout West Tropical Africa. Its range includes several countries such as Benin, Burkina, and the Gambia. Additionally, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ficus thonningsii is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad vertical gradient within its native habitats, spanning from lowland areas to montane environments. It exhibits a significant adaptive range, occurring at elevations as low as 10 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL. This wide elevational distribution suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the species to occupy diverse microclimates and varying moisture regimes within forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ficus thonningsii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, a trait shared across its life form classifications which categorize it specifically as a phanerophyte. This structural growth strategy supports its long-term survival in its natural habitat. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which ensures continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ficus thonningsii is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree or shrub. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite, maintaining a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing mechanisms like vines or lianas. The plant exhibits significant variation in its stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of approximately 18.29 meters, averaging around 18 meters. Although it is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte, its robust and woody composition allows it to maintain a stable, self-supporting presence within its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ficus thonningsii is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM metabolism. This metabolic process involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO to produce 3-phosphoglycerate. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ficus thonningsii is characterized by a complex biotic pollination syndrome, relying primarily on insects for successful fertilization. The plant produces fruits that are classified as fleshy in texture, with a mean length and width of approximately 1 cm. The dispersal of these fruits follows a zoochorous strategy, specifically via endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are minute, exhibiting a mean seed mass of 0.000315 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00026 g to a maximum of 0.00038 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.27 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit type :

other

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00038 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000315 g

Seed mass min:

0.00026 g

Seed volume max:

0.27 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ficus thonningii has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3',5'-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, CALCIUM, COPPER, FAT, Flavonoids.

3',5'-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

CALCIUM

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

COPPER

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

FAT

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Flavonoids

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

IRON

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Saponins

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Tannins

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Terpenoids

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Activities

Ficus thonningii has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antimicrobial

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antioxidant

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Medicinal Uses

Ficus thonningii has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial, bacterial diseases, diabetes mellitus, mental illnesses.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations