In my learning and studying growing figs I have noticed that fig plants sometime switch leaf shapes to a rounded or heart shape. As the pics below show, the change appears to be brought on at stress point in the plants life.

I have seen cutting from the same tree at the same time show initial leaves that are totally different.  


 

These tiny tip cuttings are all Little Miss Figgie's from the same tree, same time, same everything. Notice the two different leaf shapes. 

 

 

Notice also that the "finger" leaves are on the tips and the "round" are new buds from the nodes.

  This pic is 2 Texas Ever Bearing again all the same conditions.  The one on the right is again leaves from the tips and the left if from nodes. The tip leaves are fairly normal shaped and the node are again round.

 

Here is another Texas Ever Bearing that shows the initial normal leaves then a transition in the middle to round when it was moved to sunlight from Led light then once established in sunlight started the more normal top leaves.

 

This is a Little Miss Figgie that was moved outside and also shows the change in leaf shape in the transition.




I believe that a fig in distress forms a fatter larger surface area leaf in response. Initial plant growth like the LMF tip cuttings show the leaves already developing (tips) will be the "normal" shape and the new ones (node) will be the larger misshapen leaves. And the same with the stress of changing light conditions and sometimes transplanting. This appears to be a defense mechanism to insure maximum growth rates in stressful times I believe.  

Any other thoughts on this?

Excellent observations. It would make sense that under stress, a plant might react in such a way as to maximize its survival potential by throwing out an expanded leaf pattern with larger total area with which it could capture sunlight and thus convert the sun's energy meaningfully. Don't understand the mechanism by which this would be accomplished at the cellular growth level but it does make sense... Thanks!

I would venture a guess that at the cellular level the loss of certain chemicals supplied by the roots would trigger the immediate spurt of the pre-formed normal leaves on the tips and also triggers the formation of the "stress" leaves at the nodes. I bet O'Rourke At LSU could have told us for sure.

I think it is kind of like so called "seed leafs" on other plants. The first leaves from a seed seldom look like the second set of leaves.........

I did another test of my theory and will post the pics. I used two 10 inch clippings with already formed leaf tips in green. I cut these in half and this is the result. These plant pairs are from the same branch, top and bottom.

 

The plant on the left is the top of one branch with pre-formed green buds. You can see the typical 5 finger leaves of a Lil Miss Figgie. The one on the right was from new node growth. Notice that the right plant has first leaves being round and the newer ones a broader shape.

     

The second cutting had the same results.


 

Again left is tip growth and right is node growth.

   


So, although this may not interest others as it does me it does demonstrate a warning sign for your plants. If you notice new growth with leaves with more surface area the plant is under some type of duress and responding by growing leaves that capture more light. I see this often when moving my cutting outside after grow lights. 

The leaves in their shall we say "embryonic" tip growth stage were formed when the plant was not under duress like rooting so the DNA was in place for a normal shaped leaf. New node growth had a new DNA specifying a different leaf shape for maximum chlorophyll production to spur vigorous growth. After established the plant will revert back to its normal leaf type. Amazing that plants have this defence mechanism.

This leaf change happened when I moved my plants outside for the summer. The leaf in question is a bourjasotte Noire. They went from indoor grow lights to outdoors with partial sun followed by full sun most of day. So either change in light stress or increase in light caused this I assume. The leaves after this adjustment period were normal. The lobed leaf is the normal type, and there were several that were the abnormal.

This is what I believe also. I moved a VdB out from lights to a shade them semi-shade and I have 18 inches of normal 5 fingers leaves but the top 4 leaves are just like yours...almost heart shaped. Maximum light gathering for the stress. I find plants amazing in the things they do......especially figs.

Some very good observations.

Thanks........I have always been experimental and I wondered why the leaf changes occur and how it happens. So I have my answers although the only real value to this forum is that these changes are a natural defense/survival mechanism that can warn a grower of stress in a plant. The part that interested me the most was proving my theory that growing two plants from a single branch would show normal leaves from tip growth but the stress type leaves from new node growth. And that is what happened.  Even further thought showed more new tip leaves and less leaves in new growth. However by eye the square inches of leaf area were about equal after about 4 weeks. So one way or another a fig cutting will put what it needs out in leaves. Many fingered or less heart shaped leaves but same surface area. Smart plants!