Ficus carica – Common fig | |
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Foliage and fruit drawn in 1771 | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Moraceae |
Tribe: | Ficeae |
Genus: | Ficus |
Subgenus: | Ficus |
Species: | F. carica |
Binomial name | |
Ficus carica L. |
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Synonyms | |
Synonymy
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Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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Energy | 310 kJ (74 kcal) |
19.18 g
|
|
Sugars | 16.26 g |
Dietary fiber | 2.9 g |
0.30 g
|
|
0.75 g
|
|
Vitamins | |
Thiamine (B1) |
(5%)
0.060 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) |
(4%)
0.050 mg |
Niacin (B3) |
(3%)
0.400 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(6%)
0.300 mg |
Vitamin B6 |
(9%)
0.113 mg |
Folate (B9) |
(2%)
6 μg |
Choline |
(1%)
4.7 mg |
Vitamin C |
(2%)
2.0 mg |
Vitamin K |
(4%)
4.7 μg |
Minerals | |
Calcium |
(4%)
35 mg |
Iron |
(3%)
0.37 mg |
Magnesium |
(5%)
17 mg |
Manganese |
(6%)
0.128 mg |
Phosphorus |
(2%)
14 mg |
Potassium |
(5%)
242 mg |
Sodium |
(0%)
1 mg |
Zinc |
(2%)
0.15 mg |
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|
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Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
Ficus carica is an Asian species of flowering plants in the mulberry family, known as the common fig (or just the fig). It is the source of the fruit also called the fig, and as such is an important crop in those areas where it is grown commercially. Native to the Middle East and western Asia, it has been sought out and cultivated since ancient times, and is now widely grown throughout the world, both for its fruit and as an ornamental plant. The species has become naturalized in scattered locations in Asia and North America.
The term fig has its origins from the Latin word, ficus, as well as the older Hebrew name, feg. The name of the caprifig (Ficus caprificus Risso) is derived from Latin, with capro referring to goat and ficus referring to fig.
Ficus carica is a gynodioecious (functionally dioecious),deciduous tree or large shrub, growing to a height of 7–10 metres (23–33 ft), with smooth white bark. Its fragrant leaves are 12–25 centimetres (4.7–9.8 in) long and 10–18 centimetres (3.9–7.1 in) across, and deeply lobed with three or five lobes. The complex inflorescence consists of a hollow fleshy structure called the syconium, which is lined with numerous unisexual flowers. The flowers themselves are not visible from outside the syconium, as they bloom inside the infructescence. Although commonly referred to as a fruit, the fig is actually the infructescence or scion of the tree, known as a false fruit or multiple fruit, in which the flowers and seeds are borne. It is a hollow-ended stem containing many flowers. The small orifice (ostiole) visible on the middle of the fruit is a narrow passage, which allows the specialized fig wasp Blastophaga psenes to enter the fruit and pollinate the flower, whereafter the fruit grows seeds. See Ficus: Fig fruit and reproduction system.