In a very well known tourist guide describing the Island of Barbados, I saw the following photo that blew my mind. I have a very good friend from that island and my first thought,of course was to call and ask him if it is at all possible to get cuttings. When I read the article below it all sadly came together as a horrible mistake on the author's part! The pic clearly shows a ficus carica that looks kinda like the Palmata hybrid from UC Davis or maybe a Black Madeira or something similar! The description on the other hand talks about the bearded fig that is indigenous to the island! Well after a Google search I found out what I suspected! The bearded fig tree is a totally different species of ficus and of course a tropical tree and nothing like the fig on the pic. So here's my dilemma , do we let someone know that they mispresented the national tree of Barbados or let it slide? Your vote as responsible fig lovers will be deeply appreciated ! Thanks for Your time!

That is a huge mistake Chris, the Fiscus Citrifolia (the correct tree) is substantially different.   There is a chance that they are using Ficus Carica because it is much more attractive, the average person would never know the difference anyway and it is an advertisement for tourism.

attractive misstake!!

I'm thinking , maybe, this is what they meant to use instead? I could be wrong.

This is Ficus Coronata




Edit: Ok, so this is what they want people to see when on the island?

This is Ficus Citrifolia

     

My thoughts exactly Scott! Big booboo intentional or not! Thanks
Aaron what do ya say, call it or let go?

Well,  although I/we are not appointed fig diplomats of the world, collectively, we are part of a society that knows more about figs than all advertising agencies put together.

Ads are very misleading anyway in most cases and that's Capitalistic approach to drawing attention, specially when it comes to attracting tourist traffic. I mean, have you actually gone to places where they look amazing in tourist magazines and find exactly what they were in the magazines? I haven't! I called them liars and decided not to count on ads anymore.

Can we make them recall all the magazines off of shelves and reprint them with the correct Ficus cultivar (ficus-coronata)?  (I'm scratching my head here...)

Maybe sending a letter letting them know that they haven't done justice to their island plant would be a better way of approaching this matter....other than that... it's their loss. no?  :),

Tell them and get a free trip out of it!

Bob this is a great idea that just might work! Only problem is that I don't think I can spent any more time away from my "babies" this year!!!
I have to come up with a fig cutting toting bag travel kit thingie to bring them along to my travels! Lol
Plus who wants to go to Barbados now that the fig pic conspiracy is unveiled?