Ficus tinctoria var gibbosa is probably the most common fig in Kota Kinabalu and surrounding areas. Typically it starts growth as an epiphyte on an old building or tree fork later dropping roots down to the ground. However in forested areas such as Signal Hill Ficus tinctoria var gibbosa often occurs as a stand alone tree. Old trees reach around 10m in height. This particular tree growing on the slope of Signal Hill immediately behind the Menara Building in central Kota Kinabalu was fruiting in March 2016.
Glossy Starling chasing off a Yellow-vented Bulbul. Although Green Imperial Pigeons and Pink-necked Green Pigeons are both common in the area and frequently feed on the figs of Ficus drupacea, I have yet to see them feeding on Ficus tinctoria var gibbosa figs.
The Signal Hill Lookout Platform on the hill behind Kota Kinabalu can be seen in the middle of the right hand half of the photo above . The secondary forest that covers Signal Hill is very rich in figs. From the lookout you can see at least 6 species of figs F. drupacea, F. microcarpa, F. variegata, F. septica. F. callosa and Ficus tinctoria var gibbosa.
