Ficus capreifolia

For other uses of "Sandpaper fig", see Sandpaper fig.

River sandpaper fig
In Pretoria, South Africa
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. capreifolia
Binomial name
Ficus capreifolia
Synonyms
  • F. antithetophylla Steud. ex A.Rich.
  • F. palustris Sim
  • F. paolii Pamp.[1]

The river sandpaper fig (Ficus capreifolia) is a fig shrub or small tree of the western and eastern Afrotropics. It is typically found around pans or flood plains, or along riparian fringes in tropical or subtropical savanna regions, but is absent from the tropical rainforest zone.[2] Despite its regular scrambling habit it may attain a height of 7 to 10 m (23 to 33 ft).[2]

The bark is pale and smooth, and the branches are slender.[3] Their rough-textured, pear-shaped, yellowish-green figs are up to 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter and grow on short stalks from the leaf axils.[3] The elongate leaves are rough on both surfaces.

  1. ^ "Ficus capreifolia Delile, Synonyms". ThePlantList. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Ficus capreifolia Delile". African Plant Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b Pooley, Elsa (1997). The complete guide to trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei. Durban: Natal Flora Publications Trust. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.