Genus FICUS, Tourn. 
Urticaceoe Polygamia Dioecia. 
W-*t- Jb Syt.Lin. 
Synonymes. 
Ficus, Of Authors. 
Figuier, France. 
Feigenbaum, Germany. 
Fico, Italy. 
Figuera, Higuera, Spain. 
Figueira, Portugal. 
Fig-tree, Britain and Anglo-America. 
Derivation. The word Ficus, according to some lexicographers, is derived from the Latin fmcundus, fruitful on account 
of its abundant hearing; but others derive it from the Greek sukos, or more remotely from the Hebrew/a" 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 
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 of 
a fleshy albumen. Nees Von Esenbeck, Genera. 
\HIS genus consists of trees and shrubs occurring in the 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,) mentioned in " Holy Writ," a native of 
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 the singularity 
of it? growth. This tree is described by Pliny with an accuracy, which has been 
confirmed by more recent observations, and which has been rendered almost lit- 
eral by the poet Milton, in the following beautiful lines : 
" Branching so broad along, that in the ground 
The bending twigs take root; and daughters grow 
About the mother tree ; a pillared shads. 
High overarched, with echoing walks between." 
The fruit of the banian does 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 elastic gum, resembling the caoutchouc of com- 
merce, which is principally obtained from the Hevea guianensis, a native of the 
equatorial regions of America. 
