914 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



which regularly drop their second crop figs. As far as 

 microscopical structure is concerned their flowers are en- 

 tirely similar to those in the genuine Smyrna figs. That 

 common edible figs possess at least some female flowers 

 is clearly demonstrated by the finding of fertile seed in 

 many such figs in localities where caprifigs are grown 

 spontaneously. But the small quantity of seeds found 

 indicate that the quantity of real female flowers is always 

 small. 



In places were caprifigs are not growing wild, that is 

 where they are not growing spontaneously from seed, it 

 is very difficult to decide whether a flower is a true female 

 flower or not, and the only possible way to ascertain it is 

 to pollinate it and await the results of fertilization. A 

 wild caprifig always indicates that pollination is taking 

 place through the agency of wasps, as even the caprifig 

 will not propagate itself spontaneously and become wild 

 without their agency, as the pollen cannot be transferred 

 through the wind either to the female flowers of the capri 

 or the edible fig. 



As regards the structure of the female flowers some 

 slight variation is noticeable. The petals are generally 

 four in number, but sometimes three or five. According 

 to Solms the number is quite variable within the above 

 limits, but according to my own observations the number 

 four is the most constant. In size the petals vary some, 

 one pair often being a little longer than the other, and 

 all four are always longer than *the petals of the male 

 flowers. All are more or less fleshy and sometimes they 

 are furnished with short hairs at the margin. In the cen- 

 ter between these petals projects a single pistil, at the base 

 enlarged, forming the ovary. The central part is elong- 

 ated two or three times longer than the ovary. This part 

 is the style. The upper part of the style is bent and 



