Revision of Ficus

Besides the importance of correct identification the revision of a large genus should add considerably to knowledge of phytogeography and of infrageneric diversification. In all respects Ficus has much to contribute. It is a genus which the collector meets in abundance in all parts of tropical Asia and Australasia, whether in primary or secondary environments, and which he soon learns to recognise. It can be exploited, therefore, provided the species can be identified. The purpose of this note is to request intensified collection, because I believe it is possible to name satisfactorily sterile material. Only too often, valuable sterile material is left uncollected, as I know from my own experience, for sooner or later it can be recognised as a positive record from some locality. Some figs, too, fruit rarely and are in consequence ill-represented, though really frequent.