I wanted to point out the nomenclature is pretty ambiguous for the Persian mountain fig(s).

I'm a bit confused on what "Persian Mountain fig" refers to really. It's not a great name. I guess it's translated literally from Anjeere Koohi which is already a generic term in Iran. But I've seen it here used to refer to the large dark mountain with long neck. And perhaps also used to refer to the small bone dried figs grown in Estahban with Shirazi origin (Estahban and Shiraz are close to each other anyway). These are polar opposite figs though. One large dark fig, one tiny green fig. The tiny green fig I've also heard called Shirazi figs.

Also there's many figs grown in the mountains of Iran, and many grown in Shiraz-- in fact both these come from Shiraz and the mountains!!! So mountain fig and Shirazi fig is very vague.

The bone dried figs actually have different varieties too. So the ones in the bazaar over there or imported here are not all the same cultivar--though the most popular seems to be a small green extremely sweet fig cultivar referred to as "Sabz" (means "green") in academic papers from Iran. This is the one members here are probably germinating from.

Anyway, whenever I hear Persian Mountain fig I get confused. Perhaps Persian Mountain fig is just going to have to be qualified with "the large dark one" or "the small green one"? Or am I missing something?

What I think:  "Persian Mountain Fig" is just a generic term.  It doesn't identify any particular variety or cultivar.  It's just a generic term, much like "common fig" is a generic term.  Doesn't matter if you call it "Persian Mountain Fig" or "Anjir Kohi" or "Anjeer Kohi" or any similar spelling variant --- they all just mean something like "an unspecified fig that grows in the area where this language is spoken".  It's more about the nature of language and semantics, than it is about a specific variety of fig.  Very much like how in Latin Europe we ended up with a bunch of varieties called "Fico Nero" (or any variant of that)... they just mean "black fig", another generic term.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

I think you're right Mike.

Hi PersianMD,

I thought I'd post something here not necessarily to offer clarification but in the hope you may shed some light on this.

As per our earlier chats, I am after a mountain fig variety, which has deeply-lobed leaves, with 3 lobes per leaf.  And as  "anjeer kouhi" is the generic, descriptive term literally meaning "mountain fig" (is this correct?), I have been trying to reseach the specific names of cultivars with 3 lobes per leaf and there appear to be several:

*bidanhe, ligh-green in colour;
*paizeh, canary-yellow;
*siah zoodras, purple;
*siah bolbolriz, which is purple-brown, etc;

Do those names mean anything?

Regrettably at this stage I am not sure if any of them matches the picture I am using as a guide - none of the cultivar-fruits' colours are the same as the figs in the picture, which to my untrained eye seem purplish-green.

bidane = seedless
paizeh = fall season meaning late season
siah zoodras = black early
siah bolbolriz = little black nightingale

if i have to guess these may all be smyrnas grown, not the wild mountain everyone is after.
although this is just a guess and many of these may also be wild mountain origin in their locale

i think the key thing is to read what city or town they are grown in and seeking out info about their climate

if you have the full article, i might be able to tell you better based on their climate if it posesses the extreme cold hardy trait you seek.

   Those leaves are fantastic! I cant tell but are the leaves very similar to IceCrystal?

Fantastic - the names of those cultivars sound so poetic! 

The name of the article is "Morphological and pomological characteristics of fig (ficus carica L.) cultivars from Varamin, Iran" but it is not clear if the figs which were tested and discussed were in fact obtained from the Varamin region or whether they are wild mountain cultivars...

I have tried contacting the author to check, as you have also suggested, whether they are wild mountain figs or smyrnas.

Hi SoniSoni,

They are beautiful, aren't they:) The search continues!

Hi PersianMD,  there is a lady in town who is selling a fig called " Iranian Desert". She says she got it from someone up in Maryland, and knows nothing about the variety. Have you heard of it, by any chance. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I was in Iran last March visiting a brother after 43 years who had settled in Iran (Mazandran) near Caspean sea. I asked about "anjir kohi" and the locals did not have a clue about any specific fig called this way.
However, in a similar discussion some months ago I came across the following info. My interest was triggered by its resistance to " - 40C " temperatures even if exagerated a bit.
 I hope it helps and not add to the confusion.  :
--------------------

Mountain fig
Mountain fig or rock fig (called "Anjeer Kohi" in Persian) is natural or wild fig, naturally growing in the rocky mountainous area of the Kavir desert of Iran especially on Khorasan mountain of Kohestan. the only difference between the mountain fig and other figs is their resistance of mountain fig to dry and cold climates. It usually does not need any irrigation and is able to resist extremely dry weather and -40 degree. Its dry fruit is very delicious. The most productive and the oldest Mountain fig trees are located in Zibad mountains.

Hi Greg. Thanks for the info. I bought the plant from her. There are some green unripe figs  on the plant. I'll wait and see what color and size the plant will produce. I would love to know more about it. Elizabeth.

Hi all--just got back from trip.

@Figqueen Nope I have never heard of this Iranian Desert fig--it may be an unknown variety brought by an immigrant then someone gave it the name? Keep us posted on how it does for you please :).

@Ottawan-- Mazandaran has to be the most gorgeous state in Iran!!! Its lush green mountains, nature, all the different types of the most mouth watering incredible tasting fish (!!!!!!), the world's best caviar, and of course all the fruit which is so much different than the fruit in the south where my family is from. The best clementine by far I ever had in my life came from Caspian coast a couple seasons ago. All my favorite types of fish I've ever had in my life all come from Caspian. And Javaher-deh and Kelar dasht--my goodness two of the most beautiful towns in the world I have ever visited... Your brother chose to settle down in quite the paradise. Although my family is from Shiraz, we are in love with the Caspian coast and have many close friends from there. The Persian White fig is from the north and I suspect all the northern fruit including the pomegranates from Saveh are amongst the best adapted Iranian varieties to my climate near Wash DC as opposed to the southern figs near Shiraz etc. are better for southern California.

Hi PersianMD. Thanks for the reply. I'll keep you posted on the fig. Elizabeth.

Figarone those are all common figs grown no wasp required!

Hi guys,

This is quite an edifying discussion and I thought I would revisit it to ask the million-dollar question - does anyone have/know anyone who might have cuttings from the attached fig variety? I am only interested in this one variety with its deeply-lobed (3 lobes per leaf) and narrow leaves.


 

 That's amazing .  I hope you share any info you find on it.

Have you had any luck locating this fig?

Bump this too.

@figarone
I've seen this picture before. That tree has some very unique looking leaves on it. I wonder if the leaf stucture would change any if it was in a different climate. Figs do seem to do this a little when grown in hot dry conditions as apposed to growing in a more humid environment.

Someone just needs to hike right up there and get some cuttings so we can find out :) .

We know Anjeer kohi is a general term for wild mountain figs. But many locals may know it by different names. It is confusing for sure. 
Here's a fig grown in Yazd area, most likely similar to the one posted before and a possible variant of a Ficus Afghanistanica based on the color of the leaves. As you see these figs are born on previous year wood, perhaps the breba crop or it could be a capri type figs, we don't know.


 

Wow, does yours have the red petioles and stems as well as the same leaf structure?  Do you have any way to find out more about the history of your fig?  Especially where it came from?  Can't wait to see pictures!  Thank you.

Thank you for the picture Ajarn.  Looks like you have a nice Ficus afghanistanica.