common fig
ExplorePlants
common fig
Ficus carica
The common fig is a sweet fruit that grows on trees. Its leaves are big and green, and the fruit can be purple, green, or yellow. Figs are tasty and can be eaten fresh or dried!
Habitat: Urban areas, gardens
Appearance
The common fig is a small tree or large shrub with broad, deeply lobed green leaves. Its distinctive pear-shaped fruit starts green, ripening to purple-brown, with a soft, juicy reddish interior and tiny seeds.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyMoraceaeGenusFicus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A common fig tree can live for over 100 years, growing stronger and more productive with age!
Ancient Olympic athletes ate figs for energy, calling them 'food of champions'!
Each delicious fig contains countless tiny seeds, each from a different pollinated 'flower'!
The 'fruit' you eat is actually an inside-out cluster of hundreds of tiny flowers!
Special abilities
Ability
Hidden Flowers
The common fig has its hundreds of tiny flowers hidden inside the fruit, which protects them until they're ready to be pollinated.
Ability
Wasp Partnership
The common fig needs a tiny fig wasp to enter the fruit and pollinate its hidden flowers, helping it reproduce.
Ability
Sticky Sap Defense
The common fig produces a milky latex sap when damaged, which helps it heal and deters pests from eating its leaves.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-1000 cm
- Spread
- 300-800 cm
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Fig Wasp
Blastophaga psenes
Essential for the fig's reproduction and seed formation.
eaten by
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Feeds on ripe figs, helping to disperse its numerous seeds.
eats
Human
Homo sapiens
Cultivated for millennia for its sweet, nutritious fruit.
depends on
Mediterranean Fruit Fly
Ceratitis capitata
Larvae develop inside the fruit, causing damage to crops.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Fruit Tree
A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Fig
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching plants and ask an adult before eating any fruits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is common fig?
300-1000 cm
How wide does common fig spread?
300-800 cm
Is common fig edible?
Yes
Is common fig toxic?
None
What is common fig's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is common fig pollinated?
Insect
Where is common fig usually found?
Urban areas, gardens
Snap Map
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