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ficus sycomorus cuttings?

Hi, does anyone have ficus sycomorus cuttings for swap or postage?

I am helping a friend get cuttings [including his orders in mine], and he asked about

ficus sycomorus

Thanks, Paul

Hi...., I'm looking for Ficcus syccommorus too...

Iwan, sounds like you're looking for pretty much everything.

I can do that.

I sent you email.

There's a large Ficus Sycamorus in San Diego that bears fruit. I used to know the location, but lost track of it. I have to look it up again.

I remember eating them in Lebanon, they're very tasty and aromatic. 
I have a tree of that about 4 ft tall. I doubt they'll fruit in a pot. 

Baobab Park (or something like that) somewhere in CA???

 

I do have a F. sycomorus that I raised from S. African seeds.

I grow it as a potted semi-bonsai specimen (no fruit expected).

Leaves are like mulberry.

Extremity tender; 40*F min with no frost.

 

There is another (vegetative) variant that is grown somewhere

in the Egypt/Israel area, that I would love to have...

You're correct George it's in Balboa park but it does look a bit different than the ones I've seen in Lebanon.
here's the one in California 

Here's a tree in south Lebanon. 

F.s fruit right off the bark from an old tree from over there (dream on good old Joe Doe)...

 

Some members have altereted us of the very informative PBS TV program

about the "The Queen of Trees".

 

 

Here is a Utube version:

 

 

Wish I knew someone in California who lived near that park. I'd pay them to swipe a few ripe fruit for me. I'd love to try growing some from seed.

I have one in a pot, bought it from someone here, I thought it was Bass but it's been so very long ago I don't even remember who it was. It's a lovely plant about 5' tall. I know it won't ever fruit but I just had to have one.

Two questions:
Is the fruit in San Diego edible?
and
Where in Balboa Park is it?
If the answer to the first question is no then there is no need to answer the second.

Since the Sycomore fig is another edible fig species, I too have an interest in this plant.   For many of us there is less chance of getting fruit unless we live in a warmer zone.    I am particularly interested in a variant of the Sycomore fig that is found in Israel that is becoming more rare.   

    The Sycomore fig normally requires pollination by the wasp for the fruit to mature but there are two exceptions.    There is an ancient method called "gashing."     At the appropriate time, someone would make a cut on the outside of the fig and this would induce the production of ethylene gas and cause the fig to ripen.   This is especially important in areas where the wasp that was specific for the sycomore fig did not exist.    

     The other way that the sycomore fig would make fruit involves a special strain of the sycomore fig that grows in Israel.   This fig will ripen its fruit without the wasp and without the "gashing" technique.  This is called vegetative parthenocarpy.   I would love to have a start of this variation but it might be an impossible task to find these trees.  (please let me know if anyone is aware of these clones in North America)

   I have been told that there is a "red" and "green" clone in Israel that produces fruit.  I  am not aware of any variety names and am not sure what the "red and green" means from this particular contact person.  

   Here are some articles that might be of interest:
2)   CRC Handbook of Flowering Volume 6  - page 331 is the start of the ficus section - excellent information on the ficus flower and pollination
3)   There are many scientific papers written by J. Galil that address this issue if you are seeking more information.

Ingevald

Is this the (Balboa Park) tree?

The one in the foreground or the one in the background?

http://www.geographylists.com/ficus_sycomorus.jpg

http://www.geographylists.com/sandiegoplants.html

 

Oh the magic of Google!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/texbuckner/5720001373/

 

A long time ago I did visit Balboa Park with my wife.

I remember that there was some event/festival going on (more cars than people).

I did look for that tree, but I failed to locate it.

 

Ray Givan says:

http://www.raysfiginfo.com/sycomore.html

The pictures of the Balboa tree are great. I may have to take a walk this Saturday.

When I went to Balboa Park I missed the sycomorus tree but I did run into the Morton Bay Fig Tree. It is humungous and fill the air with the aroma of figs. There were thousands on the ground.
"gene"

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lW38Ubs9StAG-7gpZcfXIQ?select=68yqaC4zm_w8gPGJCoqZwg

Ingevald,
 
Thanks for you doing all this research work on figs.
 
I did have a vague idea about F.sycomorus gashing before,
but your pointed-out document is the most clear/informative I ever read:
 
Definitively, one of us (serious) usa-fig-nuts need to acquire some wood off that
Israel variety that requires no wasp or any gashing at all.
 
I believe that there some members that live in Israel that may possibly (somehow) help out?
 
I also read that because of other superior fruits (including the F.carica), that strain
is on a very rapid decline. It would be a PITY for it to get lost after who knows how
many centuries it took for its selection....

Gorgi - Thanks for your comments on the Galil sycomore fig document.     It is a fine paper that clearly explains some fascinating biological facts related to the sycomore fig.   The ancient history that he discusses is also very interesting.

    The almost unknown fact that there is a variant that exists that does not require the wasp to make fruit is nothing short of amazing. (We all enjoy the common edible fig that does not require the wasp) You are also correct that this rare variant is in decline.  It is worth keeping an eye out for this special sycomore fig if anyone is in Israel.
Ingevald

I am about to get cuttings of Sycomore fig from Israel
Does someone here have an idea about how to root these cuttings ?
Perhaps a sterile and quite dry soil ; like microwaved sand...

I have seeds for it but I doubt they will produce the parthenocarpic varieties.

Planteur123,

http://figs4fun.com/basics_Rooting.html  There are some good instructions here.

I was only able to root them under mist. Even that is difficult. I use perlite with some peat moss. Ficus sycamorus root best as green wood cuttings.

I will probably try to root them outside in partial shade in a container with sand or perlite and organic mix, as soon as temperature gets higher (nex night -10°Celsius are announced here). Rooting outdoors in spring is slower of course than moist-indoor cuttings but it seems to me safer.
Do you know at what age this tree begins to give fruit ?

GOOD LUCK planteur123 !

Perhaps if you get your cuttings rooted you will be able to make some air layers in the futchure .

I would cover with a plastic bag to increase the humidity around the cutting. Just keep out of the sun.

Well, I will try one part with bag and one without. Each time I use the bag method indoors I have mold issues; perhaps outside it will work better.

planteur123,

How did the cuttings turn out? I just watched Queen of Trees and am fascinated.

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