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.
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- Fig Mosaic Virus
Often referred to by its acronym, FMV, or sometimes FMD (Fig Mosaic Disease). Fig Mosaic Virus is a common problem with fig trees that can stunt growth and productivity, but many trees overcome the virus with maturity.
- Figo
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
- Fig Pop
A rooting method that uses bags in place of cups or plant containers. Ben B. may have been the first to introduce this idea in How to Root Figs 1: The "Fig Pop" Method 2018. You can see examples of my fig pops:
- Fig Pulp
The complete collective fruit heads (after the flower stage) within the fig, including pedicels, ovaries, and styles. Essentially, what makes up the "pulp" of the fig, after it is ripe. For the flower stage, see Inflorescence.
- Figs4Fun
A foundation, established by Jon Verdick, dedicated to the public awareness, knowledge, and adoption of edible figs through collecting, preserving, researching, and distributing the many varieties of Ficus carica. The goal is to establish a Preservation Orchard, open to the public, for more than 1000 varieties of figs. It includes an informative fig website that includes a "database" of varieties. It also use to include the now defunct forum.
- Fig Sap
Essentially, fig sap. Often identified as the milky substance that leaks from the stem of a picked fig, indicating that it was picked too soon. Latex can be caustic to some, who have a natural allergy or intolerance. Or irritation can be acquired by frequent exposure. The UV of the sun can acerbate the irritation of latex on the skin. Latex can be difficult to remove via normal detergents. I've found orange oil is most effective for removing fig sap. See the Britannica article on Latex.
- FigsArt byNikky
FigsArt byNikky. Nicolò Parrino, who posts many beautiful images on Facebook of the varieties he has collected. Some claim that his images are too doctored and that the figs produced do not look like his images. And many of the varieties he claims are common drop figs.
- Fig Shuffle
The process of moving potted fig trees to a protected environment (in house, garage, green house, etc) at the end of the growing season and back outdoors in the spring. Often done in colder climates to protect less hardy fig trees and/or to give fig trees a head start in the spring.
- Figs of The World
A french web site, meaning Figs of The World. It is maintained by Thierry Demarquest, who has long been known as a fig collector in Europe, and now in the US. His collection, nursery, and orchard touts over 600 varieties from around the globe.
- Fig Type
Or just "type". Fig varieties are categorized into four main types: Common, Smyrna, San Pedro, and Caprifig. Also, often used to refer to fig "families". This can lead to some confusion over the strict meaning of "type" in regard to figs.
- Figue
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
- Figues du Monde
A french web site, meaning Figs of The World. It is maintained by Thierry Demarquest, who has long been known as a fig collector in Europe, and now in the US. His collection, nursery, and orchard touts over 600 varieties from around the globe.
- Fig Varieties: A Monograph
Fig Varieties: A Monograph by Ira J. Condit. Published in Hilgardia, A Journal of Agricultural Science Published by the California Agricultural Experiment Station, Vol 23, No 11, February, 1955. It was the most comprehensive resource for fig varieties at the time and is still an excellent encyclopedia on Ficus carica varieties.
- Fig 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)
- Fimbriate
Having a fringe or border of hairlike or fingerlike projections.
- First Caprifig Crop
The first or winter caprifig crop, maturing in California in early April.
Read More - Flacid
Soft; weak; limp.
- Floccose
Flocculent. Tufted with long, soft hairs.
- FMV
Often referred to by its acronym, FMV, or sometimes FMD (Fig Mosaic Disease). Fig Mosaic Virus is a common problem with fig trees that can stunt growth and productivity, but many trees overcome the virus with maturity.
- Francesco Lorusso
A fig collector from Andria, Italy, that promotes many of his varieties on his Facebook page and website. Olga (dragonking1959) is the biggest promoter of his varieties in the US. While many of his varieties have been highly rated by those living in wasp territory, others without the wasp have been frustrated with many of the varieties that Francesco and Olga claim to be of the common fig type being droppers. In addition, Lorusso keeps changing the names of his varieties, creating much confusion. Descriptions have also changed significantly.
- Frankenfig
A fig tree, with multiple varieties grafted onto to it.
- Fruit
Though, the fig, itself, is not technically a fruit, but a casing (the syconium or receptacle) that encloses dozens or hundreds of tiny fruits called "pips", drupes, or drupelets.
- Fruit
Plural, achenes. A dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit. Though figs are often referred to as fruits, they are actually containers for the dozens or hundreds of individual tiny fruits or "pips" contained within a single fig. Each achene contains a single seed, surrounded by a hard ovary wall.
- Fruit Seeker
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.
- Fugacious
Soon falling off or perishing.
- Fulvous
Tawny. Reddish-brown.
- Fungus Gnat
Small, dark, short-lived gnats. The larvae of most species feed on fungi growing within and on top of the soil, helping in the decomposition of organic matter. However some species are predatory, and can be harmful to newly-formed weak roots of fig cuttings. Though not normally harmful to established, healthy fig trees, fungus gnats can be a real nuisance if allowed to get out of control indoors.
- Fungus Gnats
Small, dark, short-lived gnats. The larvae of most species feed on fungi growing within and on top of the soil, helping in the decomposition of organic matter. However some species are predatory, and can be harmful to newly-formed weak roots of fig cuttings. Though not normally harmful to established, healthy fig trees, fungus gnats can be a real nuisance if allowed to get out of control indoors.
- Fuscous
Deep gray-brown.
g
- Gamophyllous
Formed of united leaves.
- Gateway Fig
Sometimes called a Gateway Variety. It can refer to the fig fruit, itself. But usually refers to cuttings and or trees that have qualities that are good for beginners: widely available, common type, easy to root, cold hardy, inexpensive, and tasty. Some classic beginner varieties are Violette de Bordeaux and Chicago Hardy.
- Geminate
Twins. Side by side.
- Gene Hosey
Some fig varieties can be traced back to his collection and have either a GS (Gene Strain) or GH (Gene Hosey) suffix.
Read More - Genus
A taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, as well as viruses. In the eight hierarchical levels of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. In the case of edible figs, the genus is Ficus.
- Geocarpic
Fruits borne below the soil surface.
- Germplasm Resources Information Network
Acronym for the National Genetic Resources Program, part of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
- Gibbous
Swollen on one side.
- Giorgio Grassi
Giorgio Grassi is the original source for what has come to be known as the Italian Numbered Figs collection. He collected Italian fig varieties throughout Italy and were introduced to the US by Todd Kennedy.
- Glabrate
Glabrescent. Slightly glabrous.
- Glabrous
Smooth, bald; not hairy.
- Glaucous
- of a dull grayish-green or blue color.
- covered with a powdery bloom like that on grapes.
- Globose
One of the fig form descriptors, also called "Round", "ball-shaped", "globular", or "globose". See the Fig Form Descriptions page for more information.
- Glutinous
Sticky, slimy, or glutinous.
- Gorgi M
Gorgi had a very large collection of figs from Malta as well as other varieties. His trees were initially identified with GM and a numbered suffix (e.g., GM-125). Later, some of his varieties were given more common names. For example, GM-172 was given the name Gozo Girl.
- Grafting
An alternative method of propagation to rooting cuttings. Instead, a cutting (scion) is attached to an established "root stock". Once the graft is healed and a healthy vascular system (the xylem and phloem) is established, the new grafted branch will have all of the genetics of its original "mother tree". Grafting is often used to propagate varieties which tend to have weak root systems on "root stock" that is known to have strong root systems. Some varieties tend to be weak rooters, but will graft more easily. There is also the ability to build a "frakenfig" tree, with multiple varieties, growing on a single root stock trunk.
- Grafting Tape
A brand name of grafting tape. "Buddy Tape" is another name brand. It is often used among fig growers as a generic term for any kind of grafting tape. In addition to grafting, is often used to wrap the exposed portion of a fig scion, above the rooting medium, to keep it from drying out.
- Green
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
- Green 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.
- GRIN
Acronym for the National Genetic Resources Program, part of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
- Growing Degree Days
Growing Degree Days (GDD) are used to estimate the growth and development of plants and insects during the growing season. The idea has been applied to various fig varieties. The basic concept is that development will only occur if the temperature exceeds some minimum development threshold, or base temperature (TBASE).