Of the Hiftorie of Plants, 
1511 
Li 
B. 3. 
Chap. 134. 
Of the priclffndiati Fig tree* 
f icus Ind’cx, 
The Indian Fig tree. 
fruttus. 
The fruit. 
T His ftrangeand admirable plant, called Ficus Indicafcemes tobe no other thing than a mul- 
tiplication of leaues, that is, a tree made of leaues, without body orboughes • fortheleafe 
let in the ground doth in fhort fpace take root,and bringeth out of it felfe other leaues from 
which do grow others one after another, till fuch time as they come to the height of a tree, hailing 
alfo in the meane feafon boughes as it were comming from thofe leaues, fometimes more other- 
whiles fewer, as Nature lift to beftow, adding leafe vnto leafe, whereby it occupieth a great piece 
of ground : thefe leaues are Jong and broad, as thicke as a mans tbumbe, of a deepe greene colour, 
fet full oflong, flender, fharpe, and whitifh prickles : on the tops of which leaues come forth lon<? 
floures not vnlike to thofe of the manured Pomegrenat tree, of a yellow colour ; after which com° 
meth the fruit like vnto the common Fig, narrow below, and bigger aboue,ofagreene colour and 
fluffed full ofa red pulpe and mice, ftaining the hands of them that touch it, as do the Mulberries 
withabloudy or fanguine colour : the top ofwhich Figs are inuironedwith cerraine fcaly leaues 
like a crovvne, wherein are alfo contained fmall graines that are the feeds : the which bein°- fowne 
do bring forth plants round bodied, like vnto the trunke of other trees, with leaues placecfthereon 
like the other ; which being fet in the ground bring forth trees of leaues, as we haue fhewed. 
$ Vpon this plant in fomc parts of the Weft Indies grow certain excrefcences, which in con- 
tinuance of time turn into Infedls ; and thefe out-growings are that high prized Cochenele wher- 
with they dyecolours in graine. ^ 
The Place. 
This plant groweth in all the traft of the Eaft and Weft Indies, and alfo in the countrey No- 
rembega, now cal led Virginia, from whence it hath beenc brought into Italy,Spaine,England,and 
other countries: in Italy it fometimes beareth fruit, but more often in Spaine,and neueras yet in 
England } although I haue bellowed great pains and coft in keeping it from the injury of our cold- 
clymat. 
It groweth 
