aera. SS 
FICUS CARICA. ORD. XLI. Scabride. 715 
three, bristly, of the length of the calyx, and furnished with 
double anthere. The calyx (proper) of the female flower is 
divided into five segments, which are pointed, and nearly equal: 
there is no corolla: the germen is oval: the style is tapering, 
inflexed, and furnished with two pointed reflexed stigmata: the 
calyx is oblique, and contains in its bosom a roundish compressed 
seed. It isa native of the south of Europe, and commonly pro- 
duces its flowers in June and July. 
From history, both sacred and profane, the Fig-tree appears to 
have been known in the most early times. It has been Jong culti- 
vated in England, and if screened from the north-east winds, com- 
monly ripens its fruit here. The Fig, which has always been 
found a wholesome food, was by the ancients * ripened or brought 
to perfection by caprification; a practice which in some countries 
is still continued.® It had been observed, that the fruit of this tree 
frequently withered and dropped off before it arrived at a state of 
maturity, and upon examination it was discovered that those figs 
succeeded best which had been perforated by certain winged 
insects, which therefore were supposed to be instrumental in 
ripening the fruit. This gave rise to caprification, which formerly: 
consisted in tying near the young figs the fruit of the wild fig 
tree, in which the flies above mentioned breed in abundance, and 
these insects, upon acquiring sufficient strength, issue from the 
wild fruit, and by penetrating the young figs produce the effect’ 
intended. That this insect, which by the ancients was called 
Psenes, or Culex, and by Linnzus, Cynips Psenes, produced this 
desirable effect, is generally admitted; but how it is to be ex- 
plained has been the subject of some dispute. 
To prevent ripe Figs from running into putrefaction, it is usual 
to dry them; which may be done either by the heat of the sun, 
@ See Theophrastus, Suidas, Pliny, and others. 
* Caprification, as practised at some of the Archipelago Islands, when visited by 
Tournefort, appears to he a very curious but troublesome business. See Tournefort, 
Voyage du Levant, vol. i. p. 130. 
