ExploreTree

Fig Tree

Ficus carica

The Fig Tree is a wonderful tree that produces sweet figs. Figs are soft and delicious fruits that can be eaten fresh or dried!

Habitat: Warm climates and gardens

Appearance

The Fig Tree has large, deeply lobed leaves of a dull green on top and fuzzy gray underneath. Its smooth, often twisting trunk can range from grayish-white to reddish-brown, supporting teardrop-shaped fruits that appear green, purple, or yellow when ripe.

KingdomPlantaePhylumAngiospermaeClassDicotyledoneaeOrderUrticalesFamilyMoraceae

Fig Tree

Interesting facts

Ancient Olympic champions were often crowned with fig leaves and given figs as prizes!

Fig trees are among the very first plants ever cultivated by humans, over 11,000 years ago!

If you cut a fig leaf or stem, it oozes a milky white sap that can irritate skin.

The fig 'fruit' you eat is actually a special casing filled with hundreds of tiny flowers!

Special abilities

Fig Tree has a unique syconium structure that encases its tiny flowers inside, protecting them from pests and harsh weather.

Fig Tree relies on a tiny fig wasp to crawl inside its fruit and pollinate its flowers, forming a crucial partnership.

Fig Tree can grow strong, deep roots that allow it to thrive in rocky soils or even cracks in walls, finding water where others can't.

Measurements & details

Height: 3-9 m
Canopy Spread: 4-8 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 20-60 cm
Lifespan: 50-100 years
Fruit Type: Syconium
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Fig Wasp

Blastophaga psenes

The wasp enters the fig to pollinate it.

eats

Human

Homo sapiens

Humans cultivate and consume the sweet fruit.

eaten by

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

Birds feed on the ripe, fleshy figs.

eaten by

Egyptian Fruit Bat

Rousettus aegyptiacus

Bats eat the figs, helping to spread seeds.

eats

Goat Moth

Cossus cossus

Larvae bore into and feed on the wood.

Traits

Evergreen

These wonderful plants keep their leaves or needles all year round, providing beautiful green scenery even in the chilliest months. They stay green forever!

Fruit Tree

Discover trees that grow delicious fruits, providing a natural bounty of snacks for people and animals alike. Imagine picking an apple right from the branch!

Edible

Find plants that are safe and delicious to eat, offering tasty treats and nourishment from nature's pantry. Always check with an adult before tasting!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.