Ficus Dammaropsis and the multibracteate species of ficus sect. sycocarpus

Abstract

The syconium of F. dammaropsis (New Guinea) is presented as the the primitive state of this structure in the advanced sect. Sycocarpus. The rare F. griffithii (Burma, Thailand) may be related to F. dammaropsis or to F. auriculata (sect. Neomorphe ). Subser. Praestantes , Fulvidulae , Geocarpicae , and Axillares are considered in their alliance with F. dammaropsis. Entomological evidence largely supports the botanical. Geocarpy is shown to be a consequence of leptocaul cauliflory. Subsect. Macrostyla provides a theory of the protoblastophagous syconium with emergent female styles.