This fig was photographed in lowland forest on Bukit Patoi, Temburong, Brunei on 02 September 2018 by Arlene Walshe. We have provisionally allocated this fig to Ficus carrii although there are several differences. For example Corner says that the large fruit (to 11.5 cm) ripen white with a sunken ostiole. However these differences may relate to differences between female and male fruit. Up to now Ficus carrii has never been found either in the lowlands of Borneo or south of the Sabah border.
The fig fruits were covered in a layer of short hairs. The fruits are clearly male with numerous white stamens. The stamens are single. The closest similarity is to Ficus carriiwhich is confined to hill forest in Sabah which usually has larger fig fruits and often larger leaves.
Undersurface of the leaf
The liana was growing on a rotten fallen tree trunk at ground level.The ripening male fruits were “guarded” by a female Keeled Green Pit Viper Tropidolaemus subannulatus. Pit Vipers are sit and wait predators which often pick fruiting or flowering plants on which to wait for small birds and mammals attracted by nectar or fruit. Note that the venom is dangerous and humans have occasionally died from the bite. The famous botanist Peter Ashton almost died after being bitten by one of these snakes in Temburong.
“The first place that I found this fig was at the large sandstone rock face about 2/3 the way up Bukit Patoi . (Batu berdinding or stone wall in the map below) . From there on, it becomes increasing common and is particularly prevalent where the forest turns to more Kerangas type vegetation. It can be seen scrambling over rocks, fallen trees, dead trees and trees with rough bark regularly in this area. It is even growing on one of the concrete fence posts “. Arlene Walshe
