Paully,
The O'Rourke produces figs at almost every leaf node, but due to the longer internode spacing it produced less figs than the improved Celeste. This tree growing in a 5 gallon bucket has over 100 figs at different stages of development, with ~ 3 dozen at the stagnant stage.
.

In my area of North Ga.  most people only know of 2 figs.  Celeste and Brown Turkey so if I am talking to someone and want to get them interested in figs I always start with this is an improved Celeste then tell them this one is named LSU O'rouke and out of the breeding program of LSU.  But they are all improved Celeste just some have a name.  It find it helps to generate interest in the figs since most people only know of the 2 Celest and Brown Turkey.

I just wish someone with the skill knowledge and resources would do a similiar program with the Brown Turkey.  Not only is the possability there for another batch of great plants probably for our area but just think of all the confusion we could discuss argue laugh and just give up on.

I got my Improved Celeste from James Robin 4 years ago, it didn't do much while I maintained it in a pot for three years, but now is in the ground and has grown very well. It is producing figs, but some have been dropping. I read that the IC had one to three lobed leaves, and the O'Rourke had five. My plant had been growing with 1-3, but now the new growth and suckers are producing 5 lobed leaves. So at first they looked like Gene's first two picks, but the growth now looks like O'Rourke in the third Gene picture. I also recall reading a post from Dan_la that the IC did not drop figs. Perhaps JR sold me an O'Rourke, I just don't know...I really like Pete's description of O'Rourke having a maple syrup flavor :)

Edit: after enlarging Pete's photos, I notice 3 lobed leaves are noted on O'Rourke. I have many three leaf and one single lobed with a small thumb. All new growth looks like O'Rourke. Then I re-read Mike's first post that his tree has 3-5, And that we bought our trees the same year.. My label from JR says Improved Celesete.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Gene, thanks for the reply.  That is what  I was thinking also.

Goss,
Here's a topic from last year about Southern Brown Turkey,
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6381140  hope it helps.



Mike G,
The O'Rourke tree produced mostly 5 lobed leaves.
The only few 3 lobed leaves that grew were some of the first that were produced coming out of dormancy. Out of approximately 160 leaves there are only <six  3 lobed leaves, thats ~ 96% 5 lobed leaves>.

The improved Celeste produced mostly 1 - 3 lobed leaves.
It did have 5 lobed leaves in its first year when grown with excess fertilizer and did produce some 3 lobed with thumbs last year, but there were very few of those thumbed leaves, as a guess I would say that 10% -15% were 3 lobed with thumbs, most were entire, mitten and 3 lobed.
  .

The comparisons should also always include the actual figs that are produced. The O'Rourke and improved Celeste figs are distincive from each other and from Celeste. There is lots of info that has been posted on the subject and the LSU Field day Topic from last year, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6426039 .

<edit>

TAM, here is a picture of my tree. It somewhat hard to separate it from it's close neighbors. The tree on the left and close to the camera is Tiger. On the left is LSU Gold. The O'Rourke is dead center. If you look closely you can see a two litter bottle which is my air layer.

Pete, I'm hoping to save my current tree and get one good air layer off of it. I will also try to get a couple more. I will probably replace the Tiger and the LSU Gold with more O'Rourkes.

"gene"

Pete, thanks, that is good information. They have been getting steady fertilization, and by far the majority are 3 lobed. The five lobed leaves have just strarted forming and are deeply recessed right now, but none have matured. I will keep an eye on the figs and see if that clears things up.

Mike in Hanover, VA

Pete thanks for sharing that link I had read it before.  I think I may have a couple of the southern BrownTurkey.  They are 2 of the 4 trees planted near my daughters house which my grandaughter kept picked and ate for me last year.  The cold winter froze them down to the ground and I don't know if I will get any from them this year or not.  One of them just managed to get sprouts up last week.  I was hoping to use that link to identify it for sure or not this summer but may have to wait a while now.

Gene: I looked closely at your  LSU O'Rourke tree and I saw your tree has a few single-lobed and many three-lobed leaves. Your tree is currently at about 35% stress due to fig rust. This is the main reason caused this tree not to have many figs. I recommend you to spray it and other fig trees near your LSU O'Rourke with the following solution:

TAM, I'd gladly try anything to help the situation. The main problem is the almost daily rains. It's hard to go a 24 hour period without any rain. Any spraying goes for naught.  These last three years have been the worst I can remember. Rust usually hits after most of the figs have ripened but not so these last few years. I can only hope that the seasons revert back to normal.

The tree that you see with the rust and the single leaves is the Tiger which is overtaking some of the O'Rourke's space. It will get a hard pruning this winter.
"gene"

Hi! Gene:  That is a lot of rain in your area. Please remember to use this solution right away after you mix 3 TB of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of water. Spray the leaves, branches and trunks of the trees. When ever you water your trees, I recommend you the following: Mix 1 TB of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 gallon of water. You introduce a lot of oxygen to the root systems of your trees and because of the abundant oxygen at their roots, they will have larger and healthy root systems. When your trees have healthy root systems, they will not have any disease and they will bear more better fruits for your hard work. 

Best,
Tam

Gene,
Here is a picture of my O'Rourke PP tree. It may be that my cultivar may also be one of the "released for trial"  "Improved Celeste" that was renamed by the nursery when the true O'Rourke, Champagne and Tiger were released by LSU. It would be interesting to grow these cultivars side by side to do a better comparison. If you would like cuttings send me a PM. BTW, I use the Japanese Pruning technique,  cut back fruiting branches to 2 nodes from the scaffold branches at the end of the season. Good Luck.

Pete: Your tree is healthy and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Mike, Gene, Pete, et al... I just want to say Thanks for a great thread.  I've been reading this and learning.  Also I must say I love that red color on the figs in the top picture of Gene's post #19 (apparently in low ambient light).  And Pete, your description of the maple character of the flavor has really caught my attention.  I love real maple (or I should maybe say maples, with so many variants)... even as much as I like figs.  Til now, I'd only thought of that comparison when looking at the leaves of Niagara Black (which appropriately enough was found in Canada on the Niagara peninsula, where they have maple leaves on the flag).  But to hear of a fig with a maple sort of taste, sounds enticing!  Nice thread guys... thanks.

Mike   central NY state (real maple country), zone 5a

Mike,
Thanks, the figs did look red in daylight. They turned red before changing to a maroon brown color. The flavor is between Maple Syrup and Fresh Sugar Cane syrup.
.