So some are suggesting that every fig discovered, rather than created by cross pollination should be prefaced with U...  I get that..

So, Olympian, Desert King, I-258 and Chicago Hardy would all be unknowns whereas something like Raspberry Latte a true cultivar?

I can't help but feel empathy for those of you who've worked so hard to preserve, protect and provide some of these treasures. At some point, somehow, I think you deserve naming rights... I just don't know how that would work.... I imagine this discussion will continue.

It's part of the culture of growing figs in my opinion, especially if you're not renaming a known fig cultivar on purpose. Examples that come to mind- Figo Preto, Hardy Chicago, JH Adriatic, Cravens Craving, Brooklyn White, etc. without a name it's just another black fig.

In contrast, there was a guy in New Mexico who had a huge collection of unknown figs he had found locally and never named. He just described them as black or green ,etc. He tried to sell his little local fig nursery a couple of years ago on Craigslist and I think he's done figging but just imagine the great varieties he could have introduced if he just named a couple of his best figs.

Which would you prefer- a bunch of "green" or "black " figs in your collection or names that distinguished them?

Just my 2 cents.

What if Cravens Craving is actually a known variety for example. Unless it was specifically bred or found in wasp country, it's probably already named. But my larger point was that some get away with attaching their own preferred name and some don't. It doesn't really affect me as I will always have a small collection and I don't anticipate being much of a buyer or seller.

If I'm not mistaken, someone once told me that Osborne Prolific is Neverella renamed.... I have neither so no idea...  Anyone know about this?

Many famous figs have been uniquely named without a U and in most cases the names came from qualified sources such as researchers and famous nurseries that do not change tags everyday in the name of marketing. The name should be used for identification purposes and not to create more confusion.
IMHO, I don't think that anyone is qualified to name a fig without a U and start circulating it under his chosen name without serious research, but people do it all the time. Am I going to lose any sleep over it? No.
If I have an unknown from someone I prefer to keep the U, but more importantly, I believe in adding the name of the person who introduced the variety when possible or perhaps the location and would never want to alter the name in any way. This is helpful on two fronts. First it's done out of respect for the original discoverer, second it reduces confusion when the variety starts to circulate freely on the net.

I've got it! I have a solution! I think the problem stems for the problem that we feel the word "unknown" somehow devalues the fig. I mean, who ever started using the word unknown. With the help of thesaurus.com I've found some words that, if we decide collectively, can replace the word "unknown", while still maintaining integrity. So here are the options I've found:

• Exotic
• Sui-Generis
• Uncharted
• Little-Known
• Unascertained
• Undistinguished
• Unheard-of
• Unnoted
• Differently-renowned
• Unrevealed
• Un-Debuted
• Uncommon
• Unexampled
• Exclusive

This is good Joe, but now we need fancy words to describe the taste of these super delicious Unknowns:)

Sas! Already on it!

• Nectarous
• Toothsome
• Ambrosial
• Piquant
• Cloying
• Sapid

There are different strains of figs so names like craven's craving are needed. There is a place for naming. When someone names a fig if unknown is used or not we know what it is either way. Some people like to just be hard and play strictly by the rules.