Ficus oleifolia - Kinabalu's Olive-Leaf Fig
Name of the Fig Species
- Scientific Name: Ficus oleifolia (Section: Ficus) .
- Local Names: "Olive-leaf fig" (due to leaf shape resembling Mediterranean
olives) .
General Description
- Growth Form: Small montane shrub (up to 5m tall) with highly variable leaves .
- Sex: Dioecious - Male and female flowers grow on separate plants .
The Fig Fruit and Fig Wasp
- Fruit: Tiny (0.4 - 0.8 cm), ripens bright crimson (unlike F. deltoidea's
orange-green figs) .
- Pollinator: Host-specific fig wasps (Ceratosolen spp.) that pollinate female
figs and lay eggs in male figs .
- Animals that eat figs: Birds (hornbills, fruit doves), squirrels, and bats .
How It Grows and Attaches
- Unlike tall strangler figs, F. oleifolia grows as a low shrub or climber,
often rooting in rocky crevices .
- Adaptation: Thrives in harsh conditions by clinging to rocks with tough roots,
avoiding competition with larger trees .
Typical Habitat in Borneo
- Where: Common in montane forests (500 - 3,250m), especially on Kinabalu's rocky
slopes and ultramafic soils .
- Unique Spot: Holds the record for the highest-altitude fig globally (found at
3,250m on Kinabalu!) . .
Ecological Role in Borneo Rainforest
- Keystone Species: Provides year-round food for wildlife, crucial during fruit
shortages .
- Soil Pioneer: Helps stabilize nutrient-poor ultramafic soils, enabling other
plants to grow
Unique Features or Adaptations
- Leaves: Highly variable - some resemble olive leaves, others are oblong with
forward-pointing veins .
- Toxic Soil Tolerance: One of few figs thriving on ultramafic soils (rich in
toxic nickel/magnesium) .
Visual Summa
| Feature | Ficus oleifolia |
Ficus deltoidea (Similar Species) |
|---|---|---|
| Fig Color | Bright crimson | Orange-green with red ostiole |
| Leaf Shape | Olive-like or oblong | Deltoid (triangular) |
| Habitat | Montane rocks | Lowland forests |