Dall’Osso (Belfiore)

Description

Though Dall’Osso is somewhat notorious for its “mule” figs, it has become even more respected as a very good fig in its own right. Our tree produced a few mule figs its first year, and a little less its second year, but hasn’t produced any since. There are a few somewhat different varieties that bear this name. This particular variety is the one with the elongated neck from Belfiore Viviao’s nursery, near Florence, Italy, and is highly rated.

As Merioun: (syns. Fico Fetifero, Fico dall’Osso, Ficus carica nucleata Risso). Described by Gallesio (1817), Risso (1826), Sauvaigo (1889), Eisen (1901), and Simonet et al. (1945). This variety was described by Gallesio as Fico Fetifero, or “fetus-bearing fig,” because the body of many of the fruits bore at the apex a crumpled and irregular second fruit, with scales at the base. In Piedmont it was known as Fico dall’Osso, “bony fig,” on account of the hardness of the secondary fig, analogous to nut fruits, commonly called “fruit stones.” This monstrosity is similar to the fruit of Caprificus gigantea (Grande), illustrated by Gasparrini in 1845, and to some of the teratological forms of figs discussed by Penzig (1922). According to Eisen, Tapa Cartin (Grosse Jaune) develops a similar monstrosity at the apex of the fruit. Gallesio reported that in spite of its malformed fruit, Merioun vied with other varieties in Piedmont, and was found along the slopes of the coastal Alps, especially at Saluzzo. Eisen, on the other hand, stated that it is a curious but not a valuable fig, and is rare in Provence.

The tree bears two crops. Description of fruit follows that of Eisen.

Brebas up to 3 inches in diameter, bell-shaped, flattened at the apex, some fruits contracted at the middle; upper part violet, lower part greenish yellow; pulp red, sweet, agreeable, but dry and hard around the eye.

Second-crop figs smaller, but similar in most characters.

Fig Varieties: A Monograph by Ira J. Condit