Fig Glossary
Terminology, Abbreviations & Acronyms
In any particular field of study, there is a specific terminology (vocabulary) associated with it. Figs are no different. These terms can be a bit daunting for “newbies”. Some fig terms are even obscure to seasoned fig veterans. This glossary is designed to be a powerful resource for understanding terminology that is unique to the fig community.
Note: Use the search function to quickly go directly to your term or to find synonyms for the primary list.
u
- Unknown
Unknown, or sometimes just "U". Often appended to a fig variety name as a prefix or suffix to identify a previously known variety (now lost or forgotten) as an unknown. Such varieties are often already grown widely under a known variety name, but a specific specimen has simply lost the widely known name. In botany, the a term that may be in part is "ramet": an independent member of a clone. Though an unknown could also be a "seedling", it cannot be certain. In contrast, see Seedling.
Read More - Un-lignified Cutting
A pervasive, but not entirely accurate term used within the fig community that refers to a soft, non-woody, or non-lignified cutting. Cuttings may actually be green, yet well-lignified. More accurate terms may be: Soft Cutting, Non-lignified Cutting, or Non-woody Cutting.
- Up-Pot
To transplant a fig tree to a larger growing container. "When do I up-pot my fig tree?" seems to be a popular question among newbies.
- Urceolate
Urn-shaped; globular, with an apex like an urn or pitcher.
- USDA
v
- Variegated
"Striped", Rigato, Regalto, Rimada. Variegated figs cannot be reproduced from seed. They are a very rare spontaneous mutation that occurs in nature once in a million plants. Then the variegated varieties can be cloned via cuttings.
Some variegated figs have very clear striping and are easily categorized. Others may have some light variegated characteristics that some may not wish to group into the variegated category. Striped varieties can "revert", that is, to lose their variegated mutation.
- Vascular System
The plant vascular system is a complicated network of conducting tissues that interconnects all organs and transports water, minerals, nutrients, organic compounds, and various signaling molecules throughout the plant body.
- Vasile Surugiu
Herman2 was his screen name on figs4fun. Hermansur is his eBay name. Some fig variety "strains" are attributed to him and include the VS suffix, (e.g. Marseilles Black VS, Vasilika Sika VS, CdD Grise VS).
- Verd
The color "green" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Verd
- French: Verte (feminine); Vert (masculine)
- Greek: Prásinos
- Italian: Verde
- Portuguese: Verde
- Spanish: Verde
- Turkish: Yeşil
- Verde
The color "green" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Verd
- French: Verte (feminine); Vert (masculine)
- Greek: Prásinos
- Italian: Verde
- Portuguese: Verde
- Spanish: Verde
- Turkish: Yeşil
- Vert
The color "green" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Verd
- French: Verte (feminine); Vert (masculine)
- Greek: Prásinos
- Italian: Verde
- Portuguese: Verde
- Spanish: Verde
- Turkish: Yeşil
- Verte
The color "green" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Verd
- French: Verte (feminine); Vert (masculine)
- Greek: Prásinos
- Italian: Verde
- Portuguese: Verde
- Spanish: Verde
- Turkish: Yeşil
- Villous
Shaggy, with long, soft hairs.
- Violette de Bordeaux Fig Family
One of the family of fig varieties that are grouped into categories of similar characteristics. Sometimes called Violette de Bordeaux Type, and the VdB acronym is often used.
- Viscid
Sticky, slimy, or glutinous.
- Vladimiro Rocco
Vladimiro is known for his Italian website, Fruit Seeker, but Google translates it quite well. His interests are broader than just figs, but he has a nice little collection of fig varieties. His European perspective on figs is helpful to those of us in the US. Some of his varieties or strains may have Rocco or VR as suffixes.
- VR
Vladimiro is known for his Italian website, Fruit Seeker, but Google translates it quite well. His interests are broader than just figs, but he has a nice little collection of fig varieties. His European perspective on figs is helpful to those of us in the US. Some of his varieties or strains may have Rocco or VR as suffixes.
w
- Wasp
The technical name for what is often called the "fig wasp". The fig wasp is instrumental to the natural caprification process of figs. See What Is The Fig Wasp (Blastophaga Psenes)?, Fig Wasp on Wikipedia, Fig Pollination and Fig Wasp Life Cycle (Blastophaga psenes) - All you need to know (YouTube)
- White Marseilles Fig Family
One of the family of fig varieties that are grouped into categories of similar characteristics. Sometimes called White Marseilles Type. Varieties of the White Marseilles Family represent the classic honey fig.
- Winter Caprifig Crop
The first or winter caprifig crop, maturing in California in early April.
Read More - Wu Hua Guo
An edible fig, usually Ficus carica, but can be of other species. "Fig" is often in variety names, in other languages:
- Arabic: Teen
- Catalan: Fig; plural: Figues
- Chinese: wu hua guo
- French: Figue; plural: Figues
- German: Feige; Essfeige
- Greek: Sýko; (or Siko) plural: Sýka (or Sika)
- Hebrew: Te'enah; plural: Tnm
- India (Hindi): Anjir
- Italian: Fica (feminine); Fico (masculine)
- Portuguese: Figo; plural: Figos
- Spanish: Higo; plural: Higos
- Turkish: Incir
x
- Xylem
Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants, the other being phloem. Xylem transports water and nutrients from the roots to stems and leaves,
y
- Yeşil
The color "green" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Verd
- French: Verte (feminine); Vert (masculine)
- Greek: Prásinos
- Italian: Verde
- Portuguese: Verde
- Spanish: Verde
- Turkish: Yeşil