Ficus sect. adenosperma

Abstract

The structure, distribution and classification of the twenty species of sect Adenosperma are reviewed. The section is centred on New Guinea where nineteen species occur and F. megalophylla persists as the pachycaul relic. The section relates with sect. Sycocarpus subsect. Auriculisperma of the Solomon Islands and connects with the origin of sect. Ficus through the Philippine species F. pseudopalma and F. rivularis along the Sararanga -front of the Melanesian Foreland. The most widespread species are among the most advanced. They show the usual trend in Ficusfrom the stout pachycaul with large multibracteate fig to the leptocaul with lanceolate leaf and small fig, along with the development of cauliflory and geocarpy. There is no evidence to suggest that the species evolved through vicariism, and the two series Amphigenae and Hypogenae run almost identical courses from Celebes to New Hebrides. Two new species are described from New Guinea, F. pilulifera and F. suffruticosa.