Ficus tinctoria, also known as dye fig, or humped fig is a hemiepiphytic tree of genus Ficus. It is also one of the species known as strangler fig.[3]

Dye fig
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Sycidium
Species:
F. tinctoria
Binomial name
Ficus tinctoria
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Ficus altimeraloo Roxb. ex Miq.
    • Ficus altimeraloo var. laeta (Decne.) Miq.
    • Ficus antoniana Elmer
    • Ficus chlorosykon Rech.
    • Ficus excelsa (Miq.) Miq. nom. illeg.
    • Ficus fenicis Merr.
    • Ficus laeta Decne.
    • Ficus michelii H.Lév.
    • Ficus neoehudarum Summerh.
    • Ficus reticulosa Miq.
    • Ficus swinhoei King
    • Ficus tinctoria var. neoehudarum (Summerh.) Fosberg
    • Ficus tinctoria subsp. swinhoei (King) Corner
    • Ficus tinctoria subsp. tinctoria
    • Ficus validinervis F.Muell. ex Benth.

It is found in Asia, Malesia, northern Australia, and the South Pacific islands.[3] It grows in moist valleys.[4]

Palms are favorable host species. Root systems of dye fig can come together to be self sustaining but the epiphyte usually falls if the host tree dies or rots away.[5]

In Australia it is recorded as a medium-sized tree with smooth, oval green leaves.[3] It is found often growing in rocky areas or over boulders.[3] The leaves are asymmetrical.[6]

The small rust brown fruit of the dye fig are the source of a red dye used in traditional fabric making in parts of Oceania and Indonesia.

The fruit is also edible and constitute as a major food source in the low-lying atolls of Micronesia and Polynesia.[7]

Subspecies

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Ficus tinctoria subsp. gibbosa is an accepted subspecies.[8]

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References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Ficus tinctoria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T143277299A143295549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T143277299A143295549.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "The Plant List: F. tinctoria". Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ficus tinctoria". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Ficus tinctoria in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  5. ^ Liu W., Wang P., Li J., Liu Wenyao, and Li Hongmei (2014), Plasticity of source‐water acquisition in epiphytic, transitional and terrestrial growth phases of Ficus tinctoria, Ecohydrol., 7; pages 1524–1533, doi:10.1002/eco.1475
  6. ^ Janet Franklin; Gunnar Keppel; W. Arthur Whistler (2008). "The vegetation and flora of Lakeba, Nayau and Aiwa Islands, Central Lau Group, Fiji" (PDF). Micronesica. 40: 169–225. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-13.
  7. ^ "Mati - Te Māra Reo". termarareo.org. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Plant List: F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa". Retrieved 22 April 2018.
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