URTTCACE^. 



235 



showinc; scars, from which the leaves and stipules have fallen ; twigs downy. 

 Leaves alternate, on long, thick, curved, and downy petioles ; blades 4 inches 

 long, nearly as wide, still and rough on the upper side, soft, woolly underneath, 

 cordate at base, 3 to 5 palmate, broad, blunt lobes, irregularly and coarsely 

 toothed; sti])ules large, clasping the whole stem or branch, falling off early. 

 Fruit axillary and solitary, on short stalks, varying from 1 to 3 inches in 

 length, smooth, purplish, turning to a dingv yellow wlieu ripe, soft and fleshy, 

 with numerous seed-like nuts, 1 -celled. 



2. F. elastica. (Indian Fig. India Rubber.) Trunk from 80 to 120 feet 

 in heiglit, and 5 to 10 feet in diameter. Like the F. Hengalensis it produces 

 aerial roots, which it throws to the ground, where they frequently take root 

 in the soil or in the crevices of the rocks among which it delights to grow. A 

 singular feature of this tree is its 

 enormous roots, which lie upon the 

 surface of the ground, coiling and 

 curling over and about the rocks like 

 great serpents. Branches large and 

 irregular; bark gray. Leaves ovoid 

 or elliptical, dark-green, thick, leath- 

 ery, and regularly veined, and acumi- 

 nate and glossy. Flowers in axillary 

 panicles, crimson. Fruit small, and 

 not edible. 



This tree yields the India rubber 

 of the East Indies. 



^-^^ 



Ficiis Carica (Common Fig). 



3. F. Bengalensis, W. (Banyan 

 Tree.) This tree is the most re- 

 markable of the genus Ficus, and 

 seems to deserve a place here. 



The trunk is from 5 to 9 feet in 

 diameter, and rises to the height of 

 100 feet. The branches extend hori- 

 zontally, and send down vertical branches to the ground, which take root, 

 become stems, and branch throwing down other branches, wiiich take root 

 in the same way, until the whole presents the appearance of a vast leafy 

 canopy, supported in some cases by more than fifty pillars, covering a space 

 from 300 to as much as 400 feet in diameter. It is stated by travellers that 

 these strange unions of trees sometimes rise in pyramidal form to the vjist 

 height of 1.50 feet. 



The ficus genus is large, including some curious and interesting trees. The 

 edible figs are confined entirely to the species car/ca and its numerous varieties. 



The varieties of V. Carica are as follows; 1st, growing without cultivation, 

 with small and nearly entire leaves ; 2d, under cultivation, with large leaves, 

 deeply cut and lobed, fruit white or dark ; 3d, under cultivation, with large 

 leaves, nearly entire. 



These three divisions separate into several v:irioti(\<:, each depending upon 

 the size, shape, and color of the fruit. 



Geofjraphy. — The fig grows well in all >ulitn>piial countries; and while it 

 will endure the temperature of 40° north latitude, and with slight protection 

 fruits sparingly, it Hourishes best jusf in the cdirc ,,f tlic region of no frost. 



