The Systematic Wood Anatomy of the Moraceae (Urticales) III. Tribe Ficeae

Abstract

The wood anatomy of the tribe Ficeae, comprising one genus, Ficus, is described. Considering the large number of species, the genus is remarkably homogeneous. It is characterised by abundant axial parenchyma in regular apotracheal concentric bands and narrow vasicentric rings, and by relatively wide vessels. On the basis of these characters, Ficus can easily be recognised within the family. .

Comparative wood anatomy of Ficus cestrifolia (Moraceae) in two distinct soil conditions

“…The wood anatomy of the studied species is similar to other Ficus species described in the literature, especially regarding large vessel diameter and abundant axial parenchyma (Détienne & Jacquet 1983;Koek-Noorman et al 1984). The presence of axial parenchyma bands more than three cell wide is a common feature in other species occurring in Southern Brazil's Atlantic Forest, as Ficus eximia Schott (Inside Wood 2004).…”

Fossil woods from early Miocene sediments of the El Cien Formation, Baja California Sur, Mexico

“…Rays homocellular (Plate VI,4,5,8) Affinities: Ficus is the largest genus of the Moraceae with more than 900 species in Africa, America and Australasia, and although it grows in a wide diversity of habitats (from humid forest to relatively dry zones) and exhibits a variety of habits, its wood anatomy is remarkably homogeneous (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984). Ficus can be distinguished from the other members of the Moraceae by the presence of few, relatively large vessels, long apotracheal bands, 3-15 cells wide (Plate VI, 10), non-septate libriform fibers (sporadically some septate) and the rhomboidal crystals in marginal ray cells and axial parenchyma (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984). The conspicuous parenchyma bands that in some cases make up 50% of the axial tissue are rarely found in other Moraceae genera (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984).…”

“…Ficus can be distinguished from the other members of the Moraceae by the presence of few, relatively large vessels, long apotracheal bands, 3-15 cells wide (Plate VI, 10), non-septate libriform fibers (sporadically some septate) and the rhomboidal crystals in marginal ray cells and axial parenchyma (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984). The conspicuous parenchyma bands that in some cases make up 50% of the axial tissue are rarely found in other Moraceae genera (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984). The other Moraceae genera with relatively large amounts of axial parenchyma and homocellular rays are Clarsia, Parartocarpus and Morus.…”

“…Both the El Cien woods and the extant species of Ficus have longer parenchyma strands, i.e. 4-6 cells and 4-6 [10] cells (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984), respectively. The fossil woods of the El Cien Formation is both quantitatively and qualitatively very similar to the extant species of Ficus (Plate VI, 10-12) with only slight deviations in fiber lumen and wall thickness and in the number of cells in the uniseriate extensions of the multseriate rays.…”

On the Fossil Wood Flora of Wadi Ankebieh, Egypt, with Two New Records

“…The family includes 53extant genera and 1.500 extant species (Elpel, 2013). Ficus; the "nearest living relative" of Ficoxylon is the largest genus of the Moraceae with more than 900 species in Africa, America and Australasia (Koek-Noorman et al, 1984). However, it is more restricted in distribution than its ancestor (Ficoxylon) which was spread in five continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America).…”