Category talk:Ficus citrifolia

Categories: Ficus citrifolia vs. Ficus populifolia

In Category:Ficus citrifolia, there is a mixture of different leaf shapes:

(1) Leaves longer than wide, with a rounded (or slightly cordate) base:

• 
  from Puerto Rico
• 
  from Brazil

(2) Leaves almost as wide as they are long, markedly cordate at the base:

• 
  Six images from the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, ...
• 
  ... showing a species from tropical Africa ...
• 
  ... and "probably" a drawing in the Herbarium of Leiden (but with pointed tips of the leaves)

Not being a Ficus expert, I'd say, shape #1 deserves to be called citrifolia, and shape #2 does look sufficiently like some Populus leaves to be called populifolia.

That said, let's look at the taxonomy: On the redirect page Category:Ficus populifolia, it is generally claimed that this was a synonym for Ficus citrifolia. However, two taxa called Ficus populifolia are listed on the page:

1. Ficus populifolia Desf. 1804, considered a synonym of Ficus citrifolia Mill. 1768 by The Plant List
2. Ficus populifolia Vahl 1790, considered an "accepted species" by POWO, which is the African species (see w:fr:Ficus populifolia)

As far as my understanding of potential sources of confusion (aka. taxonomy traps) goes, these names do not need to refer to the same kind of plants (as defined by the respective type specimens). So, I believe that we do need two categories for two distinct species. The present redirect is correct for the American plants (Desfontaines), but for the African plants (Vahl) I think it is misleading.

My suggestions:

• The redirect should be removed. In a situation where homonyms need to be distinguished, it's misleading.
• A new category should be set up for Ficus populifolia Vahl 1790.
• The photos which are currently placed (aka. mixed up) in Category:Ficus citrifolia should be revised and assigned to the respective categories as appropriate.
• Maybe a disambiguation page?
• I haven't looked up Wikidata and the various-language Wikipedias yet if there might be similar issues.

What do you think? -- Martinus KE (talk) 21:46, 2 March 2021 (UTC)