370 



The Figs 



2. SHORT-LEAVED FIG — Ficus brevifolia NuttaU 



This evergreen tree is rather rare in our area, occurring but sparingly in ham- 

 mocks in peninsular Florida and the Keys, but is abundant in the Bahamas, and 

 grows also in Cuba. It attains a maximum height of 15 meters, with a trunk 

 diameter of 5 dm. Sometimes it is parasitic, like the foregoing tree, but usually 

 its entire later career is terrestrial. It is also known as the Wild fig. 



The branches are stout and spreading, sometimes producing pendent, aerial 

 roots, the tree usually round-topped. The bark is about 10 mm. thick, smooth 



and light yellow-brown, sometimes sep- 

 arating in small scales and exposing the 

 reddish brown inner layers. The twigs 

 are roimd, rather stout and pithy, 

 slightly hairy and reddish, becoming 

 smooth, yellow-brown or red, and bear- 

 ing quite prominent large leaf scars, 

 and encircling stipule scars. The leaves 

 are thin, leathery, ovate, oval or rarely 

 obovate, 3 to 10 cm. long, sharp or 

 taper-pointed or blimt at the apex, 

 rounded or heart-shaped at the base, 

 entire on the margin, deep green, smooth 

 and shining with slightly impressed mid- 

 rib above, paler and smooth, with a 

 broad strong yellow midrib and promi- 

 nent venation beneath; the leaf-stalk is 

 slender, grooved, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. long; the 



Fig. 328. — Short -leaved Fig. 



stipules are of a reddish tinge and enclose the young leaves; the receptacles are 

 globose-obovoid, on stout stalks, 4 to 12 mm. long, subtended by deciduous bracts, 

 usually single, occasionally in pairs. The flowers are sessile or stalked, intermixed 

 with chaff-Uke scales, and similar to those of the foregoing species, except that the 

 lobes of the perianth are broader in the pistillate flowers. The fruit is subglobose, 

 2 to 2.5 cm. in diameter, on stout stalks 0.5 to 2.5 cm. long, yellow at first, be- 

 coming bright red. 



The wood is soft, close-grained, yellow or yellowish brown; its specific gravity 

 is about 0.56. 



This species has been confused with the similar Ficus laevigata Vahl {F. 

 poptUnea WiUdenow) of Porto Rico and the Windward islands. 



3. COMMON FIG— Reus Carica Linnaeus 



This well-known shrub or small tree is probably a native of the Mediterranean 

 region, but it has been in cultivation from prehistoric times and has been so widely 



