The systematic wood anatomy of the Moraceae (Urticales) III. Tribe Ficeae

The wood anatomy of the tribe Ficeae, comprising one genus, Ficus, is described. Considering the large number of species, the genus is remarkably homogeneous. It is characterised by abundant axial parenchyma in regular apotracheal concentric bands and narrow vasicentric rings, and by relatively wide vessels. On the basis of these characters. Ficus can easily be recognised within the family. No correlation between wood anatomy and subgeneric classification as proposed by recent taxonomists could be established, and relationships between character variation and geographical and ecological distribution were hardly found.