Fig, Fruit
Ficus carica is a species of deciduous tree in genus Ficus, in mulberry or fig family Moraceae. It is native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region (from Afghanistan to Portugal). Ficus carica is also known as Fig or Common Fig. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruits throughout its natural range, and other regions of same climates around the world. In the United States, it is commercially grown in California, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Common fig can grow from 5-10 m tall. The breadth of the tree is often wider than the height. It has smooth, and silvery gray bark. The deciduous leaves are palmate, deeply divided into 3-5 lobes, 12-25 cm long and 10-18 cm wide, with toothed margins. The fruit or fig is a pear-shaped or ovoid, 3-5 cm long, fleshy, hollow receptacle with a small opening at the apex partly closed by small scales. The fig is a false fruit or multiple fruit, in which the flowers and seeds grow together to form a single mass. The color of the ripe fruit varies from yellowish-green to coppery, bronze, or dark-purple. Figs are sweet, have antipyretic, purgative, aphrodisiac properties, also a natural tonic for energy and vitality. They can be eaten fresh or cooked, and used in jam or desserts. Most commercial production is in dried or processed forms, as it does not keep nor transport well. Figs are rich in calcium and fiber. Dried figs are rich in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K.  Ficus carica Author: H. Zell (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported) | ||
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