common fig

The common fig (Ficus carica) is a plant from the mulberry family, native to an area stretching from Turkey to northern India. It is a bush or small tree with broad, lobed leaves that produce a white latex when broken. The fruit, also called a fig or syconium, is a hollow, fleshy receptacle containing numerous tiny flowers.123

Figs were among the first fruit trees cultivated, spreading across the Mediterranean region and becoming a staple food, especially when dried. They are a good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. There are different types of figs, including the common fig, which does not require pollination to set fruit. The fig's unique pollination system involves a specific wasp, which plays a crucial role in tropical forest ecology by providing a food source for animals.142