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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- 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.
- PB
A highly respected Italian fig collector and founder of Pomona Gardens.
- Peat Moss
A dark brown fibrous product of sphagnum moss and other organic materials that decompose in peat bogs over thousands of years. Often used in soil mixes, as in the 5-1-1 soil mix.
- Pedagnuoli Crop
Often called the "main crop" or "summer crop", is the primary crop of figs that ripen from about mid-summer through early fall, as opposed to the earlier breba crop. Typically, the main crop is often of higher quality than the breba crop.
- Pedicel
The "stalk" or "stem" of a single flower or the numerous flowers in a cluster, or those contained within a fig.
- Peduncle
The "stem" or "stalk" of a fig.
- Periderm
The corky outer layer of a plant stem formed in secondary thickening or as a response to injury or infection.
- Persistent
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.
- Persistent Caprifig
A sub-type of the Caprifig Fig Type. Persistent caprifigs have a valued genetic quality to potentially produce common fig type offspring. See the What Is A Persistent Caprifig? page for more details.
- Persistent Fig Type
A female fig variety that produces one or more crops which do not require caprification (pollination) via the fig wasp or manually by hand in order to produce edible figs. View the What Is A Common Type Fig? page for more details.
- Petiole
Leaf "stem" or "stalk".
- Ph
Potential of hydrogen: a measure of acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous or other liquid solution. 7 is neutral. A Ph meter is sometimes used by fig growers to test and adjust the Ph of soil.
- Phloem
The vascular tissue in plants that conducts sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.
- Pierre Baud
The Baud Nursery is located in Vaison la Romaine, France. Its founder, Pierre Baud, is a highly-respected fig enthusiast. Some varieties and strains, with the "Baud" suffix, can be traced back to his collection.
- Pilose
Hairy, with soft, slender hairs.
- PinchThe practice of removing the tips of branches, especially the apical, to induce lateral branching and/or fruiting.
- Pinnate
Feather-veined.
- Pinnatifid
Pinnately cleft. Having lobes with incisions that extend less than half-way toward the midrib.
- Pip
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.
- Pip
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.
- Pistil
Female organ of a flower.
- Pistillate
A plant or flower having pistils, but without stamens.
- Pistillode
A rudimentary pistil.
- pitangadiego
Though Jon is not nearly as active in the fig community as he once was, his valuable contributions continue as the founder of the Figs4Fun Foundation. Jon's interests extend beyond figs. He is the owner of Encanto Farms Nursery and We Be Bananas. He was known by the handle, pitangadiego, on the old Figs4Fun forum.
- Planet Fig Collection
Marcello Finocchiaro is the man behind Planet Fig and his website is not often mentioned in the fig community. This may be due to the limited number of varieties mentioned on its website. But for what Planet Fig lacks in breadth, it makes up in depth. Growing figs in high elevations and latitude has its challenges. Planet Fig seeks to evaluate fig varieties that will prove successful in the Northern Alps of Haute-Savoie, France, close to the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Though less than a dozen varieties are evaluated on Planet Fig, the details provided on each of those varieties is extensive.
Some of the Planet Fig Collection varieties we grow are Violette de Bordeaux, Pastiliere, Di Tre Volte, Desert King, and Dalmatie.
- Plant Introduction
An identification system used by the National Plant Germplasm System to track its fig varieties. For example PI 18847 has the common name of Bourjassotte Grise and is also known as DFIC 339.
- Pollination
Pollination of female fig types (Common, San Pedro, and Smyrna) from male Caprifigs. The only known natural means of this process is via the fig wasp. Caprification is required for smyrna fig types, and the main crop of the san pedro fig type. The common fig type does not require caprification, but some common fig varieties benefit from caprification, producing larger, and/or more flavorful figs. Caprification is also required for the production of viable seeds for germination.
- Polymorphy
Of several or various forms.
- Pomona Gardens
Or Botanical Conservatory I Giardini di Pomona is a collection over 600 different plant varieties, mostly figs, founded in 1994 by Paolo Belloni in Puglia, Italy. This is one of the most important fig collections in Europe and the Mediterranean.
- Poriform
Open, pore-like.
- Potential of hydrogen
Potential of hydrogen: a measure of acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous or other liquid solution. 7 is neutral. A Ph meter is sometimes used by fig growers to test and adjust the Ph of soil.
- Prásinos
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
- Preta
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
- Preto
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
- Profichi Crop
The second or spring caprifig crop, maturing in June in California.
- Propagation
The reproduction of fig trees. There are many methods of propagation: seeds, rooting cuttings (with many variations), grafting, etc.
- Proterandrous
Condition when anther sheds pollen before stigma is receptive.
- Proterogynous
Condition when stigma is receptive before anther sheds pollen.
- Proterogyny
Maturation of pistils and stamens at different periods; proterogyny.
- Prune
The process of removing limbs and branches from a tree to manage its shape, growth and productivity. It is typically done while the tree is in its dormant stage.
- Prusch Park
A number of fig varieties sourced from the Emma Prusch Farm Park in East San Jose, California.
- Pseudo-
Greek prefix for false, fake.
- Puberulent
Minutely pubescent or covered in soft, downy hairs.