Abstract
A small fig tree has been misidentified as Ficus orthoneura for a long time. However, morphologically it is distinct from F. orthoneura and F. hookeriana. Typical are the ellipsoid, puberulous receptacle and caducous basal bracts. Leaf anatomy shows a multiple epidermis with the cells in the inner layer much larger than in the outer layer and thus both layers resemble an epidermis with a separate hypodermis. The abaxial cuticle is strongly sculptured, the palisade layer shows some long subdivided cells, and enlarged lithocysts are only present abaxially. Because of these differences we hereby describe it as a new species, named in honour of Cornelis (Cees) Berg: Ficus cornelisiana.
Highlights
During the last 10 years a fig tree developed in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG, China) on a beautiful limestone rock purchased in Hanoi (Vietnam)
The origin of the plant is uncertain, it can be an accidental introduction from Vietnam or it may be native in Kunming
Morphology showed that the specimen deviates distinctly from F. hookeriana and F. orthoneura (Table 1), while leaf anatomy showed some resembling characters with F. hookeriana and F. orthoneura, especially in the multiple epidermis with the cells in the second layer much larger than in the outer layer and in the abaxial cuticula that is strongly sculptured
Summary
During the last 10 years a fig tree developed in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG, China) on a beautiful limestone rock purchased in Hanoi (Vietnam). Leaf anatomy (Chantarasuwan et al submitted) was used to identify the XTBG plant. Morphology showed that the specimen deviates distinctly from F. hookeriana and F. orthoneura (Table 1), while leaf anatomy showed some resembling characters with F. hookeriana and F. orthoneura, especially in the multiple epidermis with the cells in the second layer much larger than in the outer layer and in the abaxial cuticula that is strongly sculptured. The specimen lacks sclerenchyma caps in the midrib and petiole, and in that is clearly distinct from F. hookeriana and F. orthoneura.
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