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.
m
- Méli
Honey is a flavor sometimes associated with some fig varieties and/or a term used for the nectar within a fig, which can ooze from the ostiole. Some varieties include “honey” in their names and can be translated from:
- Membranous
Thin and soft.
- Mesophyll
Middle soft cells of a leaf.
- Metamorphosis
A passing from one form or shape into another.
- Micropyle
Closed orifice of a seed.
- Miel
Honey is a flavor sometimes associated with some fig varieties and/or a term used for the nectar within a fig, which can ooze from the ostiole. Some varieties include “honey” in their names and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Mel
- French: Miel
- Greek: Méli
- Hebrew: Dvsh
- Italian: Miele
- Portuguese: Mel
- Spanish: Miel
- Turkish: Bal
- Miele
Honey is a flavor sometimes associated with some fig varieties and/or a term used for the nectar within a fig, which can ooze from the ostiole. Some varieties include “honey” in their names and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Mel
- French: Miel
- Greek: Méli
- Hebrew: Dvsh
- Italian: Miele
- Portuguese: Mel
- Spanish: Miel
- Turkish: Bal
- Monoecious
With male and female flowers separated on same plant.
- Monserrat Pons
Monserrat Pons, along with his nursery, and orchard by the same name, is a highly respected collector in the fig community. He is also the author of Fig Trees of the Balearic Islands. Many varieties with the MP or Pons suffix can be traced back to his orchard.
- Mother Tree
The parent tree from which cuttings are taken, or the root stock onto which scions are grafted.
- Mt Etna Fig Family
One of the family of fig varieties that are grouped into categories of similar characteristics. Sometimes called Mt Etna Type, and some prefer to use the Hardy Chicago variety name in place of Mt Etna. The Mt Etna, or Hardy Chicago, Family of figs is one of the most discussed within the fig community. It's cold hardiness, good flavor, ease of rooting and growth, and high availability make it suitable for just about any fig lover.
- Mucronate
Tipped abruptly with a sharp point.
- Mutation
The change in the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes.
In botany, a sport or bud sport, traditionally called lusus, is a part of a plant that shows morphological differences from the rest of the plant. Sports may differ by foliage shape or color, flowers, fruit, or branch structure. The cause is generally thought to be a chance genetic mutation.
Wikipedia "Sport" Article n
- National Genetic Resources Program
Acronym for the National Genetic Resources Program, part of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
- Native
Native; restricted to a certain place or region.
- Negra
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Negre
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Negro
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Nero
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Newbie
Or Noob - Someone new to growing figs.
- NGRP
Acronym for the National Genetic Resources Program, part of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
- Nicolò Parrino
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.
- Nikky
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.
- Node
Joint or place on stem for attachment of leaves or buds. This is where small buds develop into leaves, stems or figs. It is important to identify plant node “smiles” when pruning. It is ideal to make a pruning cut just above, but not too close, to a node. This approach to pruning will encourage branching and/or figs to form below the pruning cut.
- Noir
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Noire
The color "black" or "dark" is often in the name of fig varieties and can be translated from:
- Catalan: Negre
- French: Noire (feminine); Noir (masculine)
- Greek: Mávros
- Italian: Nero
- Portuguese: preta (feminine); preto (masculine)
- Spanish: negra (feminine); negro (masculine)
- Turkish: siyah
- Non-equilateral
Sides of unequal lengths. Not symmetrical or equilateral.
- Non-symmetrical
Sides of unequal lengths. Not symmetrical or equilateral.
- NPGS
National Plant Germplasm System: A collaborative effort to safeguard the genetic diversity of agriculturally important plants, including figs. The mission of the NPGS is to support agricultural production by acquiring, conserving, evaluating, documenting, and distributing crop germplasm.
- NPK
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium: The top three nutrients used in fertilizers and a numbering system is standardized for these available nutrients. For example, a 18-12-14 fertilizer is 18% nitrogen, 12% phosphorus, and 14% potassium.
o
- Ob-
Prefix signifying lower side up.
- Obcordate
Inverted heart-shaped.
- Oblanceolate
Inversely lanceolate.
- Oblate
One of the fig form descriptors. Flattened at base or apex, or both. A “flattened ball” shape. Very “squat”. Wider than long. See the Fig Form Descriptions page for more information.
- Oblique
One of the fig form descriptors. “Lopsided” or “slanted”. Not a fig form by itself, but an attribute of the overall fig shape. See the Fig Form Descriptions page for more information.
Read More - Oblong
Two or three times longer than broad and with more or less parallel margins.
- Obtuse
Blunt or rounded.
- Organza Bag
A small nylon mesh bag, often used at weddings and parties to hold candies, nuts, etc. They come in various sizes from Amazon, eBay, and other sources. Used in the fig community to cover ripening figs to protect from insects and birds.
- Ortet
In common botanical terms, it is simply, "a young plant, especially one raised from seed and not from a cutting". However, among the fig community, the seedling (or "chance seedling") term carries the idea that a completely new fig variety, with its own unique genetics, is created when grown from seed. This applies to either natural selection (wild fig trees) or human breeding. Such fig varieties then deserve their own unique name. In botany, the actual term that may be more accurate is "ortet": the original plant from which the members of a clone have descended. In contrast, see Unknown.
- Ostiole
The apical orifice connecting the cavity of receptacle with exterior. It is the "eye" or opening to the syconium at the bottom of a fig, which is lined with involucral bracts. It is through this opening that the "fig wasp" is able to enter and exit for caprification. It can also be the means through which other harmful insects and water can spoil a fig, especially when the ostioles are larger.
- Oval
Broadly elliptic.
- Ovoid
One of the fig form descriptors, also called "egg-shaped", ovate. See the Fig Form Descriptions page for more information.
p
- Palmate
Veins of leaf radiating from apex of petiole.
- Panicle
An open and branched cluster.
- Paolo Belloni
A highly respected Italian fig collector and founder of Pomona Gardens.
- Papillate
Covered in papillae ("nipples" or "teats") or minute protuberances.
- Parafilm
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.
- Parthenocarpic
Also referred to as "Parthenocarpic". A characteristic of some female fig varieties that produces edible figs without being caprified by a fig wasp. That is, the figs persistently hang onto the tree without pollination. This genetic trait is shared by the female Common Fig Type and San Pedro Fig Type (for the breba crop) varieties. For fig breeding, the male Persistent Caprifig is used to help produce new persistent fig varieties. See Parthenocarpy in Caprifigs by Ira J. Condit for more details.
- Parthenocarpy in Caprifigs
Parthenocarpy in Caprifigs - An article published in Proceedings Of The American Society For Horticultural Science, Vol 52, Pages 233-236 by Ira J. Condit, University of California Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, Calif.
- Parthenogenesis
Producing fertile seed without fertilization of flower.