Ficus tinctoria var hutan: A new variety of F. tinctoria is discovered in Borneo

A new variety of Ficus tinctoria, F. tinctoria var hutan is described for the first time.

F. tinctoria is one of the worlds most widespread species of figs which until now was thought to occur in only two varieties. Ficus tinctoria gibbosa and Ficus tinctoria tinctoria. Both of these varieties occur in Borneo.

F. tinctoria gibbosa is one of the most common epiphytic figs, found growing on rocky cliffs and buildings in many towns including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Kuching.

Ficus tinctoria tinctoria is widespread east of Borneo on many islands far into the Pacific . However the only known locations in Borneo are on Pulau Maratua and the Derawan islands off the east coast of Borneo.

Recent discoveries indicate a third variety (possibly a new species) is scarce but widespread in undisturbed hill forest from Kinabalu south to Gunung Niut in NW Kalimantan. We have provisionally named this variety Ficus tinctoria var hutan. (Hutan is the Malay name for forest).

The leaves of all three species are very similar. See the list below for differences between the figs of Ficus tinctoria var gibbosa and F. tinctoria var hutan.

*Ficus tinctoria*	**Ficus tinctoria var. gibbosa**	Ficus tinctoria var. hutan
Fig	Smooth with distinct stipe (neck)	No stalk or neck. Fig is attached directly to the twig
Ripe color	Both male & female figs ripen orange	Male figs ripen waxy green Female figs ripen orange
Peduncle (Fig stalk)	No peduncle but distinctive stipe (fig neck)	No peduncle or stipe
Ostiole 01	Flat with flat bracts	Hollow with a prominent rim.
Ostiole 02	Closed	Open
Basal bracts	At the top of the stipe where it joins the twig	3 small basal bracts on the fig body
Leaf 01	Raised mid-rib above and below	Raised midrib above and below
Leaf 02	Occasionally rhombic	Often rhombic
Leaf 03	Attenuate and uneven at the base	Attenuate and uneven at the base