Genus FICUS, Tourn. 



tTrticaceoB. Polygamia Dioecla. 



Si/st. Nat. St/tt. Lin. 



Synonymes. 



Ficus, Of Authors. 



Figuier, France. 



Feigenbaum, GERjiAPnr. 



Fico, Italy. 



Figaera, Higuera, Spain. 



Figueira, PoetuctAL. 



Fig-tree, Britain and Anglo-America. 



Derivation. The word Ficns, according to some lexicographers, i3 derived from the Latin fcecundut, fruitful ; on account 

 of its abundant bearing; but others derive it from the Greeli sukos, or more remotely from Ihe Hebrew^ag', the names of the 

 fig-tree in these languages. 



Generic Characters. Flowers inserted upon the interior surface of a hollow, globular or pear-shaped, 

 fleshy receptacle, in the tip of which is an orifice, closed with small scales ; minute, many within a 

 receptacle ; those in the upper part male, the rest female ; or the flowers of each sex occupy distinct 

 receptacles upon distinct plants. Calyx of male 3-parted. Stamens 3. Calyx of female flower 5- 

 cleft, having a tube that invests a thread-shaped stalk that bears the pistil. Stalk adnate to the ovary 

 on one side, and extending to the base of the style ; the style is inserted rather laterally. Ovary with 

 1 cell and 1 ovule. Stigmas 2. Fruit a utricle. Seed pendulous. Embryo falcate, in the centre ot 

 a fleshy albumen. Nees Von Esenbeck, Oenera. 



HIS genus consists of trees and shrubs occurring in tlie warmer 

 regions of both hemispheres, remarkable, in a popular sense, for 

 having their flowers concealed by the fleshy receptacle known as 

 the fruit. There are only two species which bear edible fruit, the 

 common fig, (Ficus carica,) hereafter considered, and the Syca- 

 more, (Ficus sycomorus,) mentLoned in " Holy Writ," a native ol 

 Egypt, holding a medium rank among timber trees. 



Among the numerous species of this genus described by botanists, may be men- 

 tioned the famous banian-tree, (Ficus benghalensis,) held sacred with the Hin- 

 doos in the East Indies, from the vast size that it attains, and from tlie singularity 

 of it? growth. This tree is described by Pliny with an accuracy, which has beeu 

 confirmed by more recent observations, and which has been rendered almost lit- 

 eral by the poet Milton, in the following beautiful lines : 



" Branching ao broad along, that in the ground 

 The bending twigs lake root ; and daughters grow 

 About the mother tree ; a pillared sh.ido, 

 High overarched, with echoing walks between." 



The fruit of the banian docs not exceed a hazel-nut in size; but the lateral 

 branches send down shoots which take root, till, in the course of time, a single 

 tree extends itself to a considerable grove. From this, as well as most other spe- 

 cies of ficus, may be extracted an clastic gum, resembling the cnuntrhouc of com- 

 merce, which is princii)ally obtained from the Hevea guianensis, a native of the 

 equatorial regions of America. 



