Ficus naikii

Ficus naikii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Species:
F. naikii
Binomial name
Ficus naikii
A.P. Tiwari, Shreehari & R.P. Mishra

Ficus naikii, the Kanger Valley fig, is a critically endangered species in the family Moraceae, discovered and described in 2025 from Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. It is endemic to the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh state in central India. The species epithet (naikii) is in the honor of Dr. M. L. Naik, Ex-Professor and Dean, School of Studies in Life Science, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, an eminent taxonomist, ecologist, environmentalist and administrator, who have devoted more than 45 years to the floristic studies in Chhattisgarh.[1]

Description

Tomentose figs (Ficus naikii), type photograph from Kanger Valley National Park, Bastar, CG, IN
A fruiting twig (Ficus naikii), type photograph from Kanger Valley National Park, Bastar, CG, IN

A small tree grows up to 6 m (20 ft) in height. Bark is smooth, glabrous, white to pale yellow in color. Leaves simple; stipule 0.6–3.5 cm (0.24–1.38 in) long, pubescent; petiole 4.5–8.0 cm (1.8–3.1 in) long, glabrous; lamina ovate in shape, 7.0 cm–16.0 cm × 4.5 cm–11.0 cm (2.8 in–6.3 in × 1.8 in–4.3 in), base subcordate to rounded, apex acuminate, acumen up to 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long, glabrous on both side; lateral veins 6-7 pairs. Basal bracts covering up to middle of the receptacle, 4.6 mm (0.18 in) long, pubescent-tomentose outside and glabrous inside. Receptacles axillary, paired or clustered sessile, globose, 0.6–0.8 cm (0.24–0.31 in) in diameter, tomemtose. Staminate flowers sessile; tepals 3-4, free, white. Pistillate flowers sessile; tepal 3-4, lanceolate, free, white; ovary pale brown. Figs tomentose.[1]

Leaves: upper and lower surface (Ficus naikii), clicked from type individual at Kanger Valley National Park, Bastar, CG, IN

Distribution and habitat

The native range of this species is India (Bastar, Chattisgarh). It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.[2]


References

  1. 1 2 Tiwari, Arjun Prasad; Sivan Nair, Sreehari; Prasad Mishra, Rajendra; Shaikh, Mujaffar (October 2025). "Ficus naikii (Moraceae), a new species from central India". Nordic Journal of Botany. 2025 (10) e04788. Bibcode:2025NorJB202504788T. doi:10.1002/njb.04788. ISSN 0107-055X.
  2. ↑ "Ficus naikii A.P.Tiwari, Sreehari & R.P.Mishra". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.