Ficus subcordata and Ficus callophylla both have very similar looking, large penniveined leaves with the thin secondary veins in dense parallel rows. Both are uncommon hemi-epiphytes in the lowland forests of Borneo.
The differences are clearly illustrated in the drawing above taken from George King’s monograph THE SPECIES OF FICUS OF THE INDO-MALAYAN & CHINESE COUNTRIES first published in 1887. These differences are as follows;
- The basal veins ( although faint) can actually be seen on the leaf of F. callophyla (above) whereas they are absent in F. subcordata (below).
- The fig fruit of F. subcordata (below) is much larger than that of F. callophylla and oblong shaped whereas the fig of F. callophylla is small and round with a peaked ostiole.
- Despite the differences shown in the illustrations the stipules of the two species are very similar. F. subcordata has a long thin needle shaped stipule. F. callophylla a slightly thicker stipule often curved at the end.
