Two blocks away from my house, I found this tree tucked behind a house that just foreclosed.

The leaves are about 10" x 10" to 12" x 12" ish.  The leaf shape is pretty unique, it is almost like "fatter" versions of the leaves on the "Unknown Voiture #217" tree I passed out to several fig friends last year, but it also kinda reminds me of Hardy Hartford (Bob Harper's unknown).  There is only one dominant leaf shape on the tree. 

I spoke with the owner that was foreclosed on.  It was there when she bought it.  She bought the home after it burned down and was rebuilt.  She said she supposedly only saw it fruit once - in 2003 - so she doesn't remember the shape/size/color of the fruit (note that the former owner says otherwise on the fruiting a couple posts down).

I know the former owner, who had the house for years before.  I have an email out to him to know if he remembers anything, and will hit him up at the community garden later if I see him. 

Look at the leaves - any idea what this could be?  Not like anything else nearby, not a Celeste, not a Hunt, not a Magnolia, not a Black Mission nor a Brown Turkey, which are 99% of everything that people grow nearby.

Hi Jason,
i cant see the picture just a red X in box, did you edit your post or something as sometimes it will do that.

Hi Martin
Now this time I can see the picture and you cannot!

Jason, the leaves are pretty. and not very common. I hope someone can identify the plant.

If you are not logged in, the tree will show as a red X, there may be other reasons also. If you cannot see the full image, scroll to just under the red X and you may find the thumbnail link. If not, click here, maybe? Link: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/file?id=1046405

No link under the red x box, tried on both browsers as i was signed in.
I think the other forum calls them Gremlins in the system. Oh well no biggie.
I clicked the regular link and the leaves are very nice shape along with the colorful stems.
Thanks for taking the time sharing the picture it was nice to view.

I talked to the old gentleman who originall planted it.  He said ...

Birds usually get to them before he could, mostly the bluejays.  Golfball sized figs or smaller, dark purple in color.  Don't remember what color the flesh inside is.  No idea what kind of fig it is, it was a gift from a friend a long time ago, from his family.  The tree has been at the house for decades, and it has to be cut down to the ground regularly because it continunes to lift the corner of the roof up!  Every year it grows back wider and wider.
 
At this point, there might be a couple dozen suckers, I'm not sure (EDIT: I moved the pine straw around the base - no suckers).  I'm going to go over and see what I can get.  With the house being in the hands of a bank, there's no telling who it will sell to, and the new owners might totally dig it out of the ground.  My curiosity is peaked.

I find it interesting how the leaves are clustered at the end of the branches.  Reminds me of a couple of the dark Portugeuse figs I've seen.  The leaves, though ... Hmmm....

I'll be asking him more questions later.  It's pretty chilly outside right now in Atlanta!  I am going to fix his computer on Monday or Tuesday, maybe I can ask him more questions then.

Jason
Try not to miss the opportunity even if it is only for the sake of those pretty leaves (the fruit will be a bonus). Removing a few suckers will be just a Small withdrawal from the bank property.

Jason, nice find. Keep us posted with what you find out.

I took two small suckers today, about 3mm thick, and that's all there was after 20 minutes of hunting each shoot down to the ground. I also took eight 3'-4' branches, put one in the ground in a spot I wanted to plant, seven in 1gal pots, put one 3-node 2" knuckle and two small twigs in the ground by the creek behind my house.

There is enough tree left to send cuttings to 50 people. I should have at least some success with what I took. The root system makes it impossible to take good suckers. They've cut the tree to the ground several times, so all branches come from the base!!

Seeing your pictures of rooting last winter im sure you will get some plants to enjoy.
You do that very well in my opinion.
I even bet you great at changing diapers now that you have precious Baby if you have not dont that before. !   ; )

Nice find Jason. Even nicer that it is something 'different', possibly purple skinned, and a 'family gift'. Very intriguing. Please keep posting progress. What have you named it?

JD, for now, "unknown Morley", for the street it was found on. There are 9 other fig trees in 3 blocks of this particular street.

Martin, I had the pleasure of helping raise 4 nieces and nephews when I was a late teenager. No stranger to diaper changing! I am accustomed to children, but I admit that taking care of a baby during the first 6 weeks is... Unique. Not easy. But we are working on a schedule, because I need to return to work soon.

I will miss taking care of her all the time, but I really do look forward to her talking so we can communicate at a deeper level.

Jason, you know me, I'm always a sucker for a sucker or two. Let me know and I send the postage plus. The only ones you sent me last year that made it are the McCauley Street green, I started 4 of them. One has a couple of figs that are close to ripening, I hope they make it.
''gene"

Hi Gene,

The root/trunk system made it almost impossible to find suckers. They've cut the tree to just above ground several times, the base of the tree is 3-4 trunks that are the size of a 8" plate each, and all branches come up from the trunk above ground.  Usually if there are good runners or the trunk is cut below ground, you can get some good roots... not the case with this one. 

Once I pulled back all the pine straw from underneath, I found that none of the shoots from the trunks are buried under ground, so no roots are formed.  The two suckers I was able to take were 3mm thick and had a few stragglers of hairy roots, and that was about all I could find that was worthwhile.

I will definitely have cuttings of these in the winter.  I don't think anything is going to happen to the house before then because of the market right now, but I have my eyes on it just in case. 

I plan to go pilfer the tree for cuttings once leaf drop happens, I'm happy to send some to you, CJ and a few others that were so kind last year, and should have enough left for a few of my other fig friends around here that are interested. 

As you can see, leaves of this thing probably won't drop for another few weeks.  While all of the Celeste around here have dropped 75% of their leaves, this one is still full on.  This plant might end up being a late ripener.

Jason,

You might consider stripping the leaves off of some branches, giving a few days to heal, and then taking the cuttings when they are still non-dormant. Experiments this season seem to confirm that "juicy": cuttings root better. I am trying several that way as I type, and so far results are promising. Even Black Madeira may be doing better this way.

Hey Jon,

First, how long of a cutting are you using, are you breaking the leaf at the stem or cutting it short, and are you just using your modified baggie method to root?

Thanks!

Jason, Since it was just foreclosed on, you might have time to air-layer a few branches (on the unseen side) before the house ends up with a realtor. Can't hurt to try.

I thought about it, strongly considering doing it, but worried about time of year/dormancy getting in the way.  Is it advisable to airlayer over the winter?  Temps here are probably going to hit our first freeze towards end of this week (at night).  We're averaging low 60's over the next week during the day.

Jason,

I am breaking the leaves off, and using 8" cuttings, and doing the same way in the skinny, plastic bags.

Air-layering works best when the tree is actively growing: ot sure that it works at all when dormant.

Hey everyone! 

To everyone who responded, I just want you to know, this stuff should go out Tuesday.  I've got cuttings heading out to a buncf of you whether you asked for them or not.  ;)

I took Celeste, Blue Celeste, Black Mission and some of these "Morley" unknown cuttings, some of you should expect some surprises, whether you asked for them or not.  I figure I've got them nearby and they're free, so ....

Thanks to everyone who's ever sent me cuttings on their dime.  I'm always happy to have chances like this to pay it forward ;)

Oh boy, Christmas comes again. Thanks in advance.
"gene"

Hi Jason,
So excited about my new arrival.
What should we write on the cups for a name?
Cathy

The unknown is going by "Morley" at this point, I'll be sure to mark it accordingl.. 

I give all of my unknowns the name of the street they're found on until they're ID'd.  This one is pretty unique, though ...

Better than Christmas- thanks Jason, for the cuttings and for your help. It seems that every time I have question about cuttings, someone else has just asked that question and you have taken the time to answer. There are truely a lot of wonderful people on this forum.