912 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



first described by Pontedera, but has not been described 

 by later botanists. Its existence, however, is entirely in 

 accordance with what is the rule in other fig species (25). 

 The different crops of the fig will be more minutely de- 

 scribed presently. 



If we consider the figpomologically it will be seen that, 

 as it is principally the receptacle that is eaten, the various 

 flowers found in the fig greatly detract from the value of 

 the fig, as they are never as juicy as the receptacle part. 

 Especially is this the case with the male flowers, which 

 are never edible; and whenever they occur they must be 

 cut away before eating. 



The Male Flozuers. — The male or staminate flowers of 

 the caprifig are as just stated situated immediately below 

 the throat of the fig, variously occupying from one-half or 

 two-thirds of the space in the receptacle of the second 

 crop, are rarely found in the third crop and are com- 

 paratively few in the first crop. 



The flowers, though small and sometimes somewhat 

 irregular, are still perfect, (i). They possesses four 

 petals, generally shorter than the anthers, and shorter 

 than those of the female flowers. Inside these petals are 

 seen four stamens carrying larger pollen producing or 

 pollen bearing anthers. 



In the second crop these stamens attain their full de- 

 velopment in the months of June or July according to 

 locality, or about two months after the time that the female 

 flowers have reached their perfection in the same fig. It 

 is evident, therefore, that in usual cases, the pollen from 

 the anthers cannot fertilize or pollinate the female flowers 

 in the same fig. Their function is to pollinate the female 

 flowers of the succeeding crop. Thus the pollen from 

 .the second crop or " profichi," pollinates the " mam- 

 moni " or third crop, the female flowers of which are in 



