FIG TREE- FOR ERASMUS+ PROJECT
Colaborative dictionary of mythological plants
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
TARGET GROUP 16
Vulgar name
English: Fig tree
Spanish: Higuera
Basque: Pikondoa
Greek:
italian: Fico
Morphologycal description
The fig is a tree of small dimensions, 10 to 30 ft (3-9 m) high, with numerous spreading branches and a trunk rarely more than 7 in (17.5 cm) in diameter. It contains copious milky latex. The root system is typically shallow and spreading, sometimes covering 50 ft (15 m) of ground, but in permeable soil some of the roots may descend to 20 ft (6 m). The deciduous leaves are palmate, deeply divided into 3 to 7 main lobes, these more shallowly lobed and irregularly toothed on the margins. The blade is up to 10 in (25 cm) in length and width, fairly thick, rough on the upper surface, softly hairy on the underside. What is commonly accepted as a "fruit" is technically a synconium, that is, a fleshy, hollow receptacle with a small opening at the apex partly closed by small scales. It may be obovoid, turbinate, or pear-shaped, 1 to 4 in (2.5-10 cm) long, and varies in color from yellowish-green to coppery, bronze, or dark-purple. Tiny flowers are massed on the inside wall. In the case of the common fig discussed here, the flowers are all female and need no pollination.The skin of the fig is thin and tender, the fleshy wall is whitish, pale-yellow, or amber, or more or less pink, rose, red or purple; juicy and sweet when ripe, gummy with latex when unripe. Seeds may be large, medium, small or minute and range in number from 30 to 1,600 per fruit.
Uses threats and singularity
USES:
- Fig fruits contain the phytochemical “benzaldehyde”, which the Japanese were able to identify as an active ingredient found through the extraction of its juice, and is shown to have cancer-fighting capabilities. It is also shown to have an effect on the removal of “polyp”, a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane.
- Figs contain some carbohydrates that were proven effective in protecting the blood from bacteria, parasites, and many other viruses that cause blood diseases such as Hepatitis C. Its potassium contents also help control blood pressure.
- Consuming two fresh ripe fig fruits per day is effective for chronic constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. This is because figs contain laxative, particularly its sap. Figs also contain a special digestive enzyme called “Ficin” and carbohydrate “Pectin”, which help increase the viscosity and volume of stool.
- Figs are beneficial in treating gout and arthritis because of its ability to dissolve uric acid salts resulting from too much consumption of red meat, which causes gout.
- Figs are also the largest source of “psoralen”. It is a compound useful for the treatment of skin disorders like psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema.
- Figs contain germicides, and antiviral and antibacterial properties that help in removing warts on the body, including the healing of wounds and ulcers. It is also useful against tapeworm. This is done by applying the fig's sap, which contains milky latex, to the affected area and covering it with gauze. Treating time is one to two weeks with everyday application.
- Fig works in preventing the oxidation of fatty acids. Thereby it helps suppress the generation of reactive oxygen species, and helps prevent atherosclerosis.
THREATS
- Fig trees' roots are very strong and because of that you have to plant the tree in an isolated part of your garden.
SINGULARITY
- You can feed your animals with figs because you will get better quality of the product, specially if you feed goats it's milks' quality will be better.