Ficus is a genus in the Moraceae family. The genus contain around 800 species; from vines and shrubs to woody trees. A majority of the fucus species originates from the tropical regions, but some also grow wild in subtropical and temperate zones.
One of the most well known ficus species is the Ficus carica, a plant known as the Common Ficus. This ficus produce a fruit called a fig that is an appreciated fruit in many parts of the world. The Ficus carica is therefore commercially grown and the figs harvested and exported. Many other ficus species will also produce edible fruits, but they are less popular and rarely grown commercially.
The fruits of the fig trees develop from a specially adapted flower. The fig fruits are so called accessory fruits; syconiums. The fruit is globular and has a small opening located in one end. This opening is named ostiole. Inside the fruit your will find a hollow area that is outlined by small edible seeds. The colour of the seeds is red.
Ficus plants come in two sexes: female plants and hermaphrodite plants. They relay on wasps to pollinate them, and the small ostiole is an opening developed especially for the wasp to...