Villosa Fig

Description:

An epiphytic fig which climbs trees and fruit when reaching a certain height. Fruits are smooth and can reach 1cm wide. Inside these fruits are male flowers so this fruit will not be edible to most animals as only the female fruits will ripen and sweeten to be eaten and dispersed. More interesting notes on figs below.

Habitat:

Primary rainforest, 300m a.s.l. This species grows and live on host trees and other structures.

Notes:

Figs do not display observable flowers as the flowers uniquely grow inside the fruits and is only visible when cut open. Hence they need fig wasps to enter and pollinate the inner flowers in the fruit through the ostiole opening which looks like a little hole at the bottom of the fruit. Borneo has around 150 native fig species and I have documented one third of it with 1StopBorneo Wildlife expeditions.