Ficus
Sycamore Fig, Ficus sycomorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Rosidae (unranked) Eurosids I Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Ficus Röding (1798)
Species
About 800, see text

Ficus is a genus of about 800 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemi-epiphytes in the family Moraceae. Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry (due to the leaves' resemblance to those of the Mulberry) sycamore Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Magnoliopsida is the Botanical name for a class of Flowering plants By definition the class will include the family Magnoliaceae, but its Under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN Rosidae is a Botanical name at the rank of subclass. In the APG II system for the classification of the Angiosperms the name rosids refers to a Clade, meaning a Monophyletic group of plants For other meanings see Rosales (disambiguation. Rosales is an order of Flowering plants including nine families Moraceae is a family of Flowering plants commonly known as the mulberry or fig family In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree A vine is any plant of Genus Vitis (the Grape plants or by extension any similar climbing or trailing plant An epiphyte is an organism that grows upon or attaches to a living plant In Biological classification, family ( Latin Moraceae is a family of Flowering plants commonly known as the mulberry or fig family Collectively known as figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the warm temperate zone. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 The so-called Common Fig (F. The Common fig ( Ficus carica) is a large Deciduous, Shrub or small Tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean carica) is a temperate species from the Middle East and southern Europe, which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit, also referred to as figs. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. The fruit of most other species are also edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. Bushfood (also called bush tucker) refers to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants the Australian Aborigines, However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife. Figs are also of paramount cultural importance throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many practical uses. Among the more famous species are the Sacred Fig tree (Peepul, Bodhi, Bo, or Po, Ficus religiosa) and the Banyan Fig (Ficus benghalensis). The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an Epiphyte when its Seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host Tree (or on structures like The oldest living plant of known planting date is a Ficus religiosa tree known as the Sri Maha Bodhi planted in the temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka by King Tissa in 288 BC. History The tree is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala, அனுராதபுரம் in Tamil) is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous The Common Fig tree (Ficus carica) is the first plant cited in the Bible. In Genesis 3:7 is described how Adam and Eve cover themselves with fig leaves when they discover that they are naked. The fig fruit is also included in the list of food found in the Promised Land, according to the Torah (Deut. 8). They are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates (representing the honey).

Figs occupy a wide variety of ecological niches. In Ecology, a niche (pronounced nich nēsh or nish A shorthand definition of niche is how an organism makes a living Take, for example, the Common Fig, a small temperate deciduous tree whose fingered fig leaf is well-known in art and iconography; or the Weeping Fig (F. The Common fig ( Ficus carica) is a large Deciduous, Shrub or small Tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean A fig leaf is the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or disagreeable Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images Ficus benjamina, commonly known as the Weeping Fig or Benjamin's Fig, is a species of Fig tree native to south and southeast Asia benjamina) a hemi-epiphyte with thin tough leaves on pendulous stalks adapted to its rain forest habitat; or the Creeping Fig (F. Rainforests are Forests characterized by high Rainfall with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches Ficus pumila ( creeping fig or climbing fig) is a woody evergreen Vine that is native to East Asia. pumila), a vine whose small, hard leaves form a dense carpet of foliage over rocks or garden walls. Moreover, figs with different plant habits have undergone adaptive radiation in different biogeographic regions, often leading to very high levels of alpha diversity. An adaptive radiation is a rapid Evolutionary radiation characterized by an increase in the morphological and ecological diversity of a single rapidly diversifying lineage Biogeography is the study of the distribution of Biodiversity over Space and Time. Alpha diversity ( α-diversity) is the Biodiversity within a particular area Community or Ecosystem, and is usually expressed as the Species In the tropics, it is quite common to find that Ficus is the most species-rich plant genus in a particular forest. In Asia as many as 70 or more species can co-exist.

Although identifying many of the species can be difficult, figs as a group are relatively easy to recognize. Often the presence of aerial roots or the general Gestalt of the plant will give them away. "Pneumatophore" redirects here It is also a name for the air bladder of the Portuguese Man o' War. Their fruit are also distinct. The fig fruit is in fact an enclosed inflorescence, sometimes referred to as a syconium, an urn-like structure lined on the inside with the fig's tiny flowers. An inflorescence is a group or cluster of Flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main Branch or a complicated arrangement of branches An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy The unique fig pollination system, involving tiny, highly specific wasps, know as fig wasps that enter these closed inflorescences to both pollinate and lay their own eggs, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder to biologists^[1]. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female Fig wasps are Wasps of the family Agaonidae which pollinate Figs or are otherwise associated with figs Finally, there are three vegetative traits that together are unique to figs. All figs possess a white to yellowish sap (latex), some in copious quantities; the twig has paired stipules or a circular stipule scar if the stipules have fallen off; and the lateral veins at the base of the leaf are steep, that is they form a tighter angle with the midrib than the other lateral veins, a feature referred to as a "tri-veined". LaTeX (ˈleɪtɛ In Botany, stipule ( Latin stipula: straw stalk is a term coined by Linnaeus

Unfortunately, there are no unambiguous older fossils of Ficus. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. However, current molecular clock estimates indicate that Ficus is a relatively ancient genus being at least 60 million years old^[1], and possibly as old as 80 million years. The molecular clock (based on the molecular clock hypothesis ( MCH) is a technique in Molecular evolution to relate the divergence time of two Species The main radiation of extant species, however, may have taken place more recently, between 20 and 40 million years ago.

Contents 1 Ecology and uses 2 Fig pollination and fig fruit 3 Selected species 4 List of famous fig trees 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 References 8 External links

Ecology and uses

Figs are keystone species in many rainforest ecosystems. The Coppersmith Barbet or Crimson-breasted Barbet ( Megalaima haemacephala) is a bird with Crimson forehead and neck Ficus virens is a plant of the genus Ficus found in India southeast Asia through Malaysia and into Northern Australia A keystone species is a Species that has a disproportionate effect on its environment relative to its abundance Rainforests are Forests characterized by high Rainfall with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( Their fruit are a key resource for some fruit carnivores including fruit bats, capuchin monkeys, langurs and mangabeys. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting For other uses of the term "Flying fox" see Flying fox (disambiguation Megabats is the term used informally to refer to bats Colobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 58 Species in 10 genera, including the Skunk -like Black-and-white They are even more important for some birds. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Asian barbets, pigeons, hornbills, fig-parrots and bulbuls are examples of taxa which may almost entirely subsist on figs when these are in plenty. A family of Birds comprising the Asian barbets, the Megalaimidae were once united with all other barbets in the Capitonidae (Short & Horne 2002 but Hornbills ( family Bucerotidae) are a group of Birds characterized by a long down-curved bill sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible Cyclopsitticini are a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, tropical Australia, and the Bulbuls ( Pycnonotidae) are a family of medium-sized passerine Songbirds Many forest species are known as Greenbuls The family A taxon (plural taxa) or taxonomic unit, is a name designating an organism or a group of Organisms In Biological nomenclature according to Many Lepidoptera caterpillars, for example of several Euploea species (Crow butterflies), the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus), the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), the Brown Awl (Badamia exclamationis), and Chrysodeixis eriosoma, Choreutidae and Copromorphidae moths feed on fig leaves. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths Euploea is a genus of milkweed butterflies. The Species are generally dark in coloration often quite blackish for which reason they are commonly The Plain Tiger ( Danaus chrysippus) or - outside Asia - African Monarch is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly ( Papilio cresphontes) is a Swallowtail butterfly common in various parts of North America particularly the south and east Badamia exclamationis, commonly known as the Brown Awl, is a Butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is found in India Description Wingspan 42 mm Differs from Chrysodeixis signata in the head thorax and fore wing having a reddish tinge; abdomen with the lateral and anal tufts often Choreutidae, or "metalmark moths" are a Family of Insects in the Lepidopteran order whose relationships have been long disputed Copromorphidae, the "tropical fruitworm moths" is a family of Insects in the Lepidopteran order. A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. The Citrus long-horned beetle (Anoplophora chinensis), for example, has larvae which feed on wood, including that of fig trees; it can become a pest in fig plantations. The Citrus Long-horned beetle ( Anoplophora chinensis) is a Long-horned beetle native to China and Korea, where it is considered a serious pest Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs A pest is an organism which has characteristics that are regarded by Humans as injurious or unwanted Similarly, the Sweet Potato Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is frequently found as a pest on figs grown as potted plants and is spread through the export of these plants to other localities. The Sweet Potato Whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci) is an Insect found around the world and probably native to India. For a list of other diseases common to fig trees, see List of foliage plant diseases (Moraceae). This is a list of diseases of foliage plants belonging to the family Moraceae

The wood of fig trees is often soft and the latex precludes its use for many purposes. LaTeX (ˈleɪtɛ For example, it was used to make mummy caskets in Ancient Egypt. A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme A casket, or a jewellery box is a receptacle for Trinkets and jewels. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now On the other hand, certain fig species (mainly F. cotinifolia, F. glabrata and F. padifolia) are traditionally used in Mesoamerica to produce papel amate (Nahuatl: āmatl). Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Mesoamérica is a Region extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, defined Nahuatl ( is a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan or Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family Mutuba (F. natalensis) is used to produce barkcloth in Uganda. Barkcloth is a versatile material that was once common in Asia Africa Indonesia and the Pacific The Republic of Uganda is a Landlocked country in East Africa. Pou (F. religiosa leaves' shape inspired one of the standard kbach rachana, decorative elements in Cambodian architecture. The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig Kbach ( Khmer: ក្បាច់ are decorative elements of Cambodian architecture The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Weeping Fig (F. Ficus benjamina, commonly known as the Weeping Fig or Benjamin's Fig, is a species of Fig tree native to south and southeast Asia benjamina) and Indian Rubber Plant (F. elastica) are identified as powerful air-cleaning plants in the NASA Clean Air Study. The NASA Clean Air Study has been led by the NASA in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA Indian Banyan (F. Ficus benghalensis, also known as Bengal fig, Indian fig, East Indian fig, Indian Banyan or simply Banyan, also bengalensis) and the Indian Rubber Plant, as well as other species, have use in herbalism. Herbalism is a traditional Medicinal or Folk medicine practice based on the use of Plants and Plant extracts Herbalism is also known as On the other hand, the latter is known to be a hyperaccumulator of benzene and methane, and urban or potted plants should be considered toxic for that reason. Phytoremediation describes the treatment of environmental problems ( Bioremediation) through the use of Plants The word's etymology comes from Benzene, or benzol, is an organic Chemical compound and a known Carcinogen with the molecular formula C 6 H 6 Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas.

Figs have figured prominently in some human cultures. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Huexotzinco Codex or Huejotzingo Codex is an eight-sheet document on Amatl, a pre-European paper made in Mesoamerica. Amatl (āmatl amate or papel amate) is a form of Paper that was manufactured in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. There is evidence that figs, specifically the Common fig (F. The Common fig ( Ficus carica) is a large Deciduous, Shrub or small Tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean carica) and Sycamore fig (F. Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry (due to the leaves' resemblance to those of the Mulberry) sycamore sycomorus), were among the first - if not the very first - plant species that were deliberately bred for agriculture in the Middle East, starting more than 11,000 years ago. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Nine subfossil F. Subfossil refers to remains whose Fossilization process is not complete either for lack of time or because the condition in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization carica figs dated to about 9400-9200 BC were found in the early Neolithic village Gilgal I (in the Jordan Valley, 13 km north of Jericho). The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Jericho ( Arabic, ʼArīḥā; Hebrew, Standard Yəriḥo Tiberian Yərîḫô These were a parthenocarpic type and thus apparently an early cultivar. In Botany and Horticulture, parthenocarpy (literally meaning virgin fruit is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of This find predates the cultivation of grain in the Middle East many hundreds of years. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. ^[2].

Additionally, the fig tree has profoundly influenced culture through several religious traditions. It is one of the two sacred trees of Islam, and in East Asia, figs are pivotal in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Siddhārtha Gautama, the Supreme Buddha, is traditionally held to have found bodhi (enlightenment) while meditating under a Sacred Fig (F. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig religiosa). The same species was Ashvastha, the "world tree" of Hinduism. According to the Hindu mythology, ashvastha (or Assattha), that is the Ficus religiosa, is a sacred tree for the Hindus and has been extensively The World Tree is a Motif present in several religions and mythologies particularly Indo-European religions The world tree is represented as a colossal The Plaksa Pra-sravana was said to be a fig tree between the roots of which the Sarasvati River sprang forth; it is usually held to be a Sacred Fig but more probably seems to be a Wavy-leaved Fig (F. The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig The Sarasvati River ( Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu infectoria).

Fig pollination and fig fruit

See also: Common Fig

Figs, fresh Nutritional value per 100 g (3. The Common fig ( Ficus carica) is a large Deciduous, Shrub or small Tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean 5 oz)
Energy 70 kcal   310 kJ
Carbohydrates     19 g - Sugars  16 g - Dietary fiber  3 g   Fat 0. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water 3 g Protein 0. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl 8 g
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database

Figs, dried Nutritional value per 100 g (3. 5 oz)
Energy 250 kcal   1040 kJ
Carbohydrates     64 g - Sugars  48 g - Dietary fiber  10 g   Fat 1 g Protein 3 g
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database

The fig is commonly thought of as fruit, but it is properly the flower of the fig tree. It is in fact a false fruit or multiple fruit, in which the flowers and seeds grow together to form a single mass. An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy Multiple fruit s are fruits that are formed from a cluster of flowers (called an Inflorescence) growing on a Catkin. The genus Dorstenia, also in the figs family (Moraceae), exhibits similar tiny flowers arranged on a receptacle but in this case the receptacle is a more or less flat, open surface. Moraceae is a family of Flowering plants commonly known as the mulberry or fig family

A fig "fruit" is derived from a specially adapted type of inflorescence (an arrangement of multiple flowers). An inflorescence is a group or cluster of Flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main Branch or a complicated arrangement of branches What is commonly called the "fruit" of a fig is actually a specialized structure- or accessory-fruit called a syconium. An accessory fruit, false fruit, spurious fruit, epigynous fruit, syconium or pseudocarp is a Fruit where the fleshy In this case, it is an involuted, nearly closed receptacle with many small flowers arranged on the inner surface. Thus the actual flowers of the fig are unseen unless the fig is cut open. In Chinese the fig is called "wú huā guǒ" or "fruit without flower". ^[3] In Bengali, where the Common Fig is called dumur, it is referenced in a proverb: tumi jeno dumurer phool hoe gele ("You have become [invisible like] the dumur flower").

The syconium often has a bulbous shape with a small opening (the ostiole) at the outward end that allows access to pollinators. An ostiole is a small hole or opening through which Alga or Ascomycetes Fungi release their mature Spores A pollinator is the biotic agent ( vector) that moves Pollen from the male Anthers of a Flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish The flowers are pollinated by very small wasps that crawl through the opening in search of a suitable place to lay eggs. Fig wasps are Wasps of the family Agaonidae which pollinate Figs or are otherwise associated with figs Without this pollinator service fig trees cannot reproduce by seed. In turn, the flowers provide a safe haven and nourishment for the next generation of wasps. This accounts for the frequent presence of wasp maggots in the fruit. Technically, a fig fruit proper would be one of the many tiny mature, seed-bearing flowers found inside one fig - if you cut open a fresh fig, the flowers will appear as fleshy "threads", each bearing a single seed inside.

The fig plants can be monoicous (hermaphrodite) or dioicous (hermaphrodite and female) (see Berg & Corner, 2005).

All the native fig trees of the American continent are monoicous, as well as the species F. benghalensis, F. microcarpa, F. religiosa, F. benjamina, F. elastica, F. lyrata, F. sycomorus, F. macrophylla, etc.

On the other hand the Common Fig (Ficus carica) is a dioicous plant, as well as, F. aspera, F. auriculata, F. deltoidea, F. pseudopalma, F. pumila, etc.

The hermaphrodite Common Figs are called "inedible figs" or caprifigs; in traditional Common Fig culture in the Mediterranean region, they were considered food for goats (Capra aegagrus). The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat Domesticated from the Wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe In the female fig trees, the male flower parts fail to develop; they produce the "edible figs". Fig wasps grow in Common Fig caprifigs but not in the female syconiums because the female flower is too long for the wasp to successfully lay her eggs in them. Fig wasps are Wasps of the family Agaonidae which pollinate Figs or are otherwise associated with figs Nonetheless, the wasp pollinates the flower with pollen from the fig it grew up in. When the wasp dies, it is broken down by enzymes inside the fig. Fig wasps are not known to transmit any diseases harmful to humans.

When a caprifig ripens, another caprifig must be ready to be pollinated. In temperate climes, wasps hibernate in figs, and there are distinct crops. Common Fig caprifigs have three crops per year; edible figs have two. The first (breba) produces small fruits called olynth. Some parthenocarpic cultivars of Common Figs do not require pollination at all, and will produce a crop of figs (albeit sterile) in the absence of caprifigs or fig wasps. In Botany and Horticulture, parthenocarpy (literally meaning virgin fruit is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar

There is typically only one species of wasp capable of fertilizing the flowers of each species of fig, and therefore plantings of fig species outside of their native range results in effectively sterile individuals. For example, in Hawaii, some 60 species of figs have been introduced, but only four of the wasps that fertilize them have been introduced, so only four species of figs produce viable seeds there. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the This is an example of mutualism, i. Mutualism is a Biological interaction between individuals of two different Species, where both individuals derive a fitness benefit for example increased e. one organism (fig plant) can not propagate itself without the other one (fig wasp).

The intimate association between fig species and their wasp pollinators, along with the high incidence of a one-to-one plant-pollinator ratio have long led scientists to believe that figs and wasps are a clear example of coevolution. In a broad sense biological co-evolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object" Morphological and reproductive behavior evidence, such as the correspondence between fig and wasp larvae maturation rates, have been cited as support for this hypothesis for many years. ^[4]. Additionally, recent genetic and molecular dating analyses have shown a very close correspondence in the character evolution and speciation phylogenies of these two clades. Speciation is the Evolutionary process by which new biological Species arise ^[5].

Selected species

List of famous fig trees

• Ashvastha - the world tree of Hinduism, held to be a supernatural F. Ficus virens is a plant of the genus Ficus found in India southeast Asia through Malaysia and into Northern Australia Ficus virens is a plant of the genus Ficus found in India southeast Asia through Malaysia and into Northern Australia Ficus virens is a plant of the genus Ficus found in India southeast Asia through Malaysia and into Northern Australia According to the Hindu mythology, ashvastha (or Assattha), that is the Ficus religiosa, is a sacred tree for the Hindus and has been extensively The World Tree is a Motif present in several religions and mythologies particularly Indo-European religions The world tree is represented as a colossal Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. religiosa
• Bodhi tree - a F. The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo (from the Sinhalese Bo was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree ( Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh religiosa
• Charybdis Fig Tree of the Odyssey
• Curtain Fig Tree - a F. The Charybdis Fig Tree is a massive fig tree situated above the whirlpool monster Charybdis in the infamous Strait of Messina. The Odyssey ( Greek: Ὀδύσσεια or Odússeia) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. The Curtain Fig Tree is one of the largest trees in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, and one of the best known attractions on the Atherton Tableland virens
• Ficus Ruminalis - a F. The Ficus Ruminalis was a wild Fig tree on the Palatine Hill in ancient Rome near the Lupercal on the Palatine. carica
• Plaksa - another supernatural fig in Hinduism; usually identified as F. The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig religiosa but probably F. infectoria
• Santa Barbara's Moreton Bay Fig Tree - a F. Santa Barbara's Moreton Bay Fig Tree located in Santa Barbara California is believed to be the largest Ficus macrophylla in the country. macrophylla
• Sri Maha Bodhi - another F. History The tree is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment religiosa. Planted in 288 BC, the oldest human-planted tree on record
• The Great Banyan - a F. Located in the Indian Botanical Gardens, Howrah, over the River Hooghly from Kolkata, the Great Banyan was the widest tree in the world benghalensis, a clonal colony and once the largest organism known
• Vidurashwatha - "Vidura's Sacred Fig tree", a village in India named after a famous F. "Ramet" redirects here For the commune in Alba County, Romania see Râmeţ. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Vidurashwatha (Kannadaವಿದುರಾಶ್ವತ್ಠ is a small village located in the Gauribidanur Vidura ( Sanskrit: विदुर vidūra) was half-brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu. religiosa that until recently stood there

See also

• Abraham Mauricio Salazar, famous papel amate artist
• Amphoe Pho Sai and Amphoe Suan Phueng, districts in Thailand named after Ficus species
• Banyan
• Edred John Henry Corner
• Fig Newton
• Fig-parrots
• Figtree
• List of fruits
• Miracles of Jesus: the parable of the barren fig tree
• Mission fig
• Pippalada - Atharva-Veda scholar whose name means "Sacred Fig eater"
• Strangler Fig
• Figs in the Bible

Footnotes

References

• Carauta, Pedro; Diaz, Ernani (2002): Figueiras no Brasil. Editora UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro.
• Berg, C. C. & Corner, E. J. H. (2005): Moraceae. Flora Malesiana. Ser. I, vol. 17, part 2.
• Harrison, Rhett D. (2005): Figs and the diversity of tropical rain forests. Bioscience 55(12): 1053-1064.
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External links

• Figweb Major reference site for the genus Ficus
• Video: Interaction of figs and fig wasps Multi-award-winning documentary
• Fruits of Warm Climates: Fig
• Ficus Tree and Fig Care Information
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Fig Fruit Facts
• North American Fruit Explorers: Fig
• BBC: Fig fossil clue to early farming

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