Shrub Figs of Borneo

Name of the Fig Species

Scientific Name: Ficus midotis  -  The Wine-Jug Fig of Borneo

General Description

Dioecious: Male and female flowers grow on separate plants .

Appearance: A small shrub or climber (up to 5m tall) with large, wavy-edged leaves (10 - 34 cm long) that have a corrugated surface and uneven leaf bases .

The Fig Fruit and Fig Wasp

Fruit: Tiny (0.6 - 1 cm), bright red figs grow in dense clusters on trunks/branches. Covered in white dots (ant food glands!) .

Pollinator: Host-specific fig wasps (Ceratosolen spp.) that lay eggs inside male figs while pollinating female figs - a 60-million-year-old partnership! .

Animals that eat figs: Birds (hornbills, fruit doves), squirrels, and bats .

How It Grows and Attaches

Shrub vs. Short Tree: Unlike taller fig trees (e.g., stranglers), F. midotis grows low to the ground as a shrub or climber, often sprawling over rocks or host trees .

Attachment: Starts as an epiphyte (growing on other plants) but can root into soil. Its flexible stems allow it to climb or spread horizontally .

Typical Habitat in Borneo

Where: Common in wet hill forests and along rivers throughout Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan) .

Soil/Rock Adaptability: Grows on rocky slopes and limestone outcrops, tolerating high humidity . .

Ecological Role in Borneo Rainforest

Keystone Species: Provides year-round food for animals, especially during fruit shortages .

Seed Dispersal: Birds and mammals eat figs and spread seeds, helping forest regeneration .

Unique Features or Adaptations

Leaves: Sunken veins give a "bullate" (bubbly) texture - unlike its smooth-leaf cousin F. subulata .

Survival Trick: Its hairy figs may deter some pests while attracting ants (via white glands) for protection .

Visual Highlights