Socotra: Ficus vasta

[JasonD]

Palm Society members Laz Priegues, John Leupold, and I were on Socotra last week. We encountered two ficuses, the larger and prettier of which is Ficus vasta, illustrated here from the hike up to Hoq Cave on the north slope of the island, at approximately 300m–500m elevation.

[Tom in Tucson]

That island, as I'm sure you're aware, is one of the most botanically rich areas in the world. I would like to visit it myself some day. I'm fortunate to currently own 2 species from there:

Ficus vasta (socotrana) and Adenium socotranum.

I've grown in the past Dendrosicyos socotranus, Dorstenia gigas, Commiphora planifrons, and Dracaena cinnabari. I'll try these and some others if I can find them.

Hi 85˚, Lo 50˚

[Tracy]

On 4/1/2022 at 8:19 PM, Tom in Tucson said:

That island, as I'm sure you're aware, is one of the most botanically rich areas in the world. I would like to visit it myself some day. I'm fortunate to currently own 2 species from there:

Ficus vasta (socotrana)

Agree!  Great to see this species or island variant of the species in habitat.  I've posted the ones growing here in San Diego at the Zoo and also the SD Botanical Garden in my posts about growing one in my backyard.  Photos of the island look otherworldly.