Sunday 15 November 2015
SITTING UNDER A FIG TREE.
As I sit under a fig tree, l watch a tumble bug or dung beetle
( Coprophagous) come tumbling along with a large ball of dung.
l love these Latin names, my favourite has to be (Turdus Turdus.)
The figs are not ready yet, but when they are open the fleshy fruits
to reveal the red succulent interior. This is where the single sexed
flowers are.. A pollinating beetle (Blastophaga grossorum), enters
the fruit through a small opening at the apex to lay her eggs, pollinating
as she moves from one tree to another. When the eggs hatch out the
grublets eat the fruit. Watch out for them, or " just fignore them" ,
as my niece would say.
Half ripe figs are semi-poisonous. On the other hand the fig fruit
and sap are used medicinally against, boils, skin infections, warts,
insect bites, stings and of course syrup of figs! Never burn fig wood
it is hugely noxious.
The fig tree is mentioned in the Bible more times than any other
plant. Its leaf being the first garment for mankind. This l rather
contest. Be carefull the leaves are scratchy and can bring on a
nasty rash.
Indeed, as in days of old when Knights were bold and used a blade
of grass, I was caught short and having no blades of grass,
I plucked the nearest green leaf !( a fig leaf ). Minutes later I
suffered the most dreadful reaction. Luckily there was a water
channel nearby.
Fig wood is easily bent and can be used to make bent wood furniture,
garlands, hoops ect: The wilder Egyptian fig was used , because of its
light- weight durability for making mummy coffins.
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