1/0 
FICUS CARICA. 
Common Fig Tree* 
Class PoLYGAMiA. —Ori/er Trkecia. 
Nat. Ord. Scabrid^, Linn. Urtic/E, Juss. 
Gen. Ch AR. Common Receptacle (m binate, fleshy, converging",, 
concealing the florets, either in the same or a distant indi- 
vidual. 
Male. Calyx five-parted. Corolla none. 
Stamens three. 
Female. Calyx five-parted. Corolla none. 
Pistil one. Seeds covered by a permanent, closed, somewhat 
fleshy calyx. 
Spec. Char. Leaves palmated. 
The Fig Tree is supposed to be a native of Asia, but introduced 
at a very early period into Europe, where it has long since become 
naturalized. It is the S'v/tv] of the ancient Greeks, the fruit of which 
they named Hvka. In the south of Europe it flourishes in great 
perfection, but in England, although the fruit commonly ripens, it is 
not so fine as in the warmer latitudes. The fig tree was introduced 
into this country about the year 1562,t and the first trees that were 
propagated are supposed to have been planted by Cardinal Pole in 
the Palace Gardens at Lambeth ; these trees are said to continue 
still to bear excellent fruit. 
This tree is of small size, the trunk seldom rising above twelve feet 
in height, or exceeding seven or eight inches in diameter; the 
branches are many and spreading, and covered, like the trunk, with a 
smooth brown bark, which exudes when wounded an odorous milky 
fluid; the leaves are large, succulent, smooth, or somewhat sca- 
brous, and irregularly divided into three or five lobes ; of a deep 
* Fig. a. represents a male floret magnified. 6. A male floret of the natural si; 
«. A female floret of the natural size, d, A female floret magnified. 
+ Hort, Cantabrigiensis. 
