I'm new to this forum and have a fig tree of unknown variety. I've attached a flickr set of photos. Would LOVE help ID'ing this baby! Any guesses you have would be appreciated.

Welcome to the forum Nelson
I don't know the variety but nice pictures I'm sure someone will chime in soon and give you a good guess.

I think it looks like celeste.

Welcome Nelson, looks like Celeste to me too.

I just added some new shots to the flickr set with a split open fig. hopefully that will help. Also a few leaf detail shots.

Thanks ejp3 and daygrower for your guesses!

Nelson

Hi Nelson,

I'm starting to notice patterns to leafs in relation to ethnicity.

I don't think it's a Celeste.  Fruit is too round and a bit larger than what is normal.

I like the name Flatbush Dark...

I'm not a huge fan of assigning names to figs unless they are truly unique with no known synonyms (or genetically proven unique, as was done with the variety "Stella").

I would recommend to anyone planning to assign your own name that you add the word "unknown" to the end of it, like "flatbush dark unknown" so you don't confuse people into thinking this is some new variety, only to find out later that it is a known variety already, and now we have two, three, four or more names for the same variety.

I feel like when folks start assigning their own names to figs, we end up with this whole "lengthy list of synonyms" problem, you know, ten names for the same fig over the course of time... or more, just see all the known synonyms for Violette Soleis (there's at least 25).  It's bad news, there is enough confusion with the naming of figs as it is.

This is not a criticism just a question...

interesting debate. How could I find out if there is a genetically unique? Probably easier to use other criteria...As a total novice at fig identification I'm not sure how to navigate this one. Advice?

The problem with fig trees are that alot of figs and leaves look very close. When young, fig trees don't exhibit the mother tree leaves until much more mature.

There is a great topic on this, found here:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3149804

@Nelson, someone recently discovered a unique fig variety in the northwest, I think?  He sent the cutting off to some university (don't remember which) for DNA testing, and it indeed proved to be genetically unique from any other fig.  I don't know how a normal person would manage to pull this off, but the guy seemed to be relatively normal, run of the mill guy in the story I read.

If anyone can locate the thread/story on that fig discovery, it would be great.  For some reason I have it stuck my head that this was Cordi/Stella, but I get the feeling I may be wrong.

Jason ,
I think you are remembering Olympian fig variety.
Search on this forum .

My 2 cents
If I were to find a fig in a neighborhood and could not find a positive ID I would put a name on it with unknown attached.
If time went by and the consences was that it was unique the unknown would be removed.
In the case of something like Franks Petite Nigri where there is some doubt then the name with the disclamer-Petite Nigri (FMD) that will distinguish it from the other Petite Nigri out there it doesn't mean its not but just in case

Quite an interesting subject, this.

My one cent contribution.

For most of us, names become important when trading cuttings. For some it is absolutely necessary if selling figs on ebay, for example.

I think that as long as the fig with no pedigree is amply described and a brief history is available it could be given a temporary name.

For example, the cuttings that I obtained on my travels to Europe and Morocco obviously do not have names. But even for purposes of  putting a label on the potted plants it is necessary to give them a name.

My large white fig from Cucchiano, Rende, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy is simply labeled White Cucchiano. Should I ever offer cuttings, it would come with a full description of the tree, fruit, taste etc as well as a history of where the cutting came from (ie my childhood home and the memories associated with it).

As long as no one tries to pull the wool over someone's eyes  by misrepresenting the fig, I think it is OK.