228 



N. Ord. ARTOCARPACE J5. Le Maout & Dec., p. 669 ; Bureau in 



DC. Prod., xvi, p. 280. 

 Tribe Fleece. Lindl., Veg. K., p. 266. 



Genus Ficus, Linn* A vast genus not as yet fully mono- 

 graphed. Estimated to contain over 600 species (including 

 Urostigma, &c.), found in the warmer and tropical parts 

 of both hemispheres. 



228. Ficus Carica,f Linn., Sp. Plant, ed. I, p. 1059 (1753). 



Fig. 



Syn. Ficus ssp. and Caprificus, Gasparrini. 



Figures. Woodv., t. 244; Hayne, ix, 1. 13; Steph. & Ch., t. 154; Nees, 

 t. 97 ; Berg & Sch., 1. 19 a ; Reichenb., Ic. Fl. Germ., xii, t. 659 ; Nees, 

 Gen. Fl. Germ., Apet. 



Description. A small, irregularly-branched tree, or large strag- 

 gling bush. ; branches numerous, cylindrical, with a smooth red- 

 dish or pale grey bark, marked, whilst young, with the scars of 

 the petioles and fallen stipules ; the youngest twigs downy. Leaves- 

 alternate, deciduous, spreading, on longish, thick, often curved, 

 cylindrical, downy petioles ; blade 4 or more inches long, rather 

 rigid, dark green, rough on the upper surface, finely woolly 

 beneath, sub-cordate at the base, usually more or less deeply cut 

 into 3 or 5 palmate, broad, rather blunt lobes, margin more or less 

 irregularly and coarsely dentat e- serrate ; stipules large, smooth, 

 early deciduous, embracing the whole circumference of the stem 

 and enveloping the young bud like an extinguisher. Flowers 

 unisexual, minute, closely crowded on the inner surface of a large, 

 hollow, externally pear-shaped receptacle, supported at the base by 

 several broad, smooth, scaly bracts, and perforated at the apex by 

 an orifice closed by numerous small scales ; these receptacles are 

 axillary and supported on short stalks. Male flowers (not seen) 

 few, found near the mouth of the receptacle, " perianth-segments 

 3 5, stamens 1 5, generally 3, filaments longer than perianth " 



* Ficus, the Latin classical name; in Greek, O-VKT) or 

 f Carica, used by the Latin authors for a dried fig ; from Caria in Asia 

 Minor, where they were produced. 



