Ficus mucuso
| Ficus mucuso | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Ficus |
| Species: | F. mucuso
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ficus mucuso Welw. ex Ficalho
| |
Ficus mucuso is a medium to large sized tree within the family Moraceae. The range of the species spans Tropical West Africa from Sierral Leone to Uganda, in East Africa.[1]
Description
[edit]A medium-sized to tall sized tree, Ficus mucuso can reach an height of 30 m, sometimes up to 40m; the plant commonly has prominent plank-like buttressed roots that sometimes extend for about 4 meters up the trunk.[2] The bark is smooth, cinnamon brown in color and rarely scaly.[2] Leaves have stipules and petiole, stipules tend to be caducous while petiole is hairy, up to and 10 cm long.[3] Surface of leaves can be rough or sometimes smooth, with a cordate base and acuminate apex. Figs can be found on branches of the species, they are globular in shape, and are commonly green when young becoming yellow to orange when ripe.[3]
Ecology
[edit]The figs of the species are eaten by avian wildlife that includes the black-billed turcaco.[4]
Uses
[edit]Among the Baganda people of Uganda, wood obtained from Ficus mucuso are carved to make drums.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ WFO (2023): Ficus mucuso Welw. ex Ficalho. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000689380 . Accessed on: 18 Oct 2023
- ^ a b Eggeling, William (1939). A descriptive list of the indigenous trees of the Uganda protectorate (PhD thesis). University of Edinburgh.
- ^ a b Ndolo Ebika, S. T.; Morgan, D.; Sanz, C.; Harris, D. J. (2018-08-09). "FICUS SPECIES IN THE SANGHA TRINATIONAL, CENTRAL AFRICA". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 75 (3): 377–420. doi:10.1017/S0960428618000173. ISSN 1474-0036.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Anthony B.; Campbell, Bruce Morgan; Belcher, Brian (2005). Carving out a future: forests, livelihoods and the international woodcarving trade. People and plants conservation series. Fonds mondial pour la nature, Unesco, Royal botanic gardens. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-045-9.