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Identification of a Fig Leaf Tree
Identification of a Fig Leaf Tree. The common fig tree, or Ficus carica, has a long history of human cultivation. Fig trees originated in Western Asia and were distributed to the Mediterranean region by humans. They were eventually introduced into England in the 16th century and the Americas in the middle of the 17th century. The fig thrives and...
The common fig tree, or Ficus carica, has a long history of human cultivation. Fig trees originated in Western Asia and were distributed to the Mediterranean region by humans. They were eventually introduced into England in the 16th century and the Americas in the middle of the 17th century. The fig thrives and produces high-quality fruit in temperate climates. The tree also has some interesting features that make it relatively easy to identify.
Things You'll Need
Knife
Check the height of the tree. Determine if the tree is between 10 to 30 feet high. This is typical for fig trees. Look for twisted branches that spread outward to a width greater than the tree's height.
Inspect the tree's leaves. Look for green, palm-shaped leaves that have three to seven lobes and are 10 to 12 inches long. The leaf should have a rough texture on top. Check the bottom of the leaf as well. Fig tree leaves have hairy undersides.
Check the tree's fruit. Look for a fleshy, pear-shaped or egg-shaped fruit that is up to 4 inches long. The color varies from green to copper to purple. Look for a tiny opening at the apex.
Cut open the fruit with a knife. Find the tiny flowers massed along the inside of each fruit. Look for the seeds, which can vary from 300 to 1,600 per fruit.
Observe the number of crops the tree produces over the course of a year. The fig tree produces two crops per year. The first crop is called the breba crop and occurs in spring. The second crop, or main crop, comes in the fall.
Tips & Warnings
Avoid touching the milky sap of the fig. It will irritate your skin.
Do not plant a fig tree near your home garden. They have invasive roots and may damage your plants.
