Mulberry fig

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Sycamore fig
Sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus)

Sycamore fig ( Ficus sycomorus )

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden I
Order : Rose-like (rosales)
Family : Mulberry family (Moraceae)
Genre : Figs ( ficus )
Type : Sycamore fig
Scientific name
Ficus sycomorus
L.
Trunk and fruits
leaves

The sycamore ( Ficus sycomorus ), and Adam fig , donkey fig or sycamore called, is one in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Africa widespread tree from the family of Mulberry family (Moraceae).

description

Mulberry figs on the tree

The mulberry fig is a semi-evergreen deciduous tree with a large spreading crown and a very thick trunk. It reaches heights of growth from 15 to over 45 meters. The trunk diameter can reach a little over 2 meters. Smaller buttress roots or corrugations are sometimes also formed. The bark is relatively smooth and brownish to greyish and partially flakes off.

The alternate, relatively large, short-stalked and egg-shaped to slightly heart-shaped, simple, round-pointed to rounded leaves are somewhat rough and whole-margined to notched or curved. The nerve is usually threefold, the stipules are sloping. The leaves are sometimes somewhat hairy above and below.

The mulberry fig is monoecious . Unlike other fig species, the fruits grow in tufts on short twigs on the trunk and main branches. The sycamore figs are quite large with a diameter of 5 cm and yellowish-red when ripe.

Development of the fruit heads

The infructescence of F. sycomorus develops differently. Various species of wasps are involved in their development and maturation, stimulating the formation of the fruit cluster. Without the activity of the fig wasp Ceratosolen arabicus , the plant cannot develop seeds, but they only occur in Africa.

history

Egypt

The ancient Egyptians planted the sycamore as a fruit and shade tree. They used their wood for furniture, ships, coffins and statues. They used the milky juice and the fruits as remedies. Since the Old Kingdom around 2600 BC The sycamore near Memphis was worshiped as the goddess of love Hathor . Tamarisks and sycamore figs were planted in front of the tomb of King Mentuhotep II in Deir el-Bahari . The sycamore was worshiped as a sky tree in the early New Kingdom and was considered a manifestation of the goddess Nut , who gave shade, water and food to the dead. Apart from cedar wood, coffins were often made from sycamore fig.

Theophrast already reported that the sycamore fig in Egypt does not produce any fertile seeds and that the farmers there propagated them using cuttings . It is unclear whether the gall wasp Ceratosolen arabicus died out after the sycamore fig immigrated, or whether the tree was brought north by humans in the form of seeds or cuttings.

Levant

The mulberry tree is mentioned in the Old Testament ( Ps 78.47  EU ), but this means the mulberry-fig tree. According to the Bible, it was first grown in the Shefela in Palestine ( 1 Kings 10.27  EU ). For these plantations in the Schefela there was a royal appointed administrator in the time of David ( 1 Chr 27.28  EU ). There is also a report of the prophet Amos , who was a shepherd and mulberry collector ( Am 1.1  EU ; 7.14 EU ). Amos is also described as a mulberry scratcher ( bls ): According to Theophrastus, by scratching the fruit, the ripening and taste can be improved.

The sycamore fig has first been proven archaeologically in the Iron Age layers from Ascalon . The wood of the sycamore fig has been found in Mo'a , En Gedi (graves 5 and 6) and Masada . It was used for containers, pegs and hairpins, as well as for coffins.

In Luke in the New Testament , the short tax collector Zacchaeus climbs up a mulberry fig tree in order to be able to see Jesus better in the crowd during his visit to Jericho ( Lk 19 : 1-10  EU ).

Confusion with other plants

In Anglo-Saxon language usage, the term is Sycamore tree also for types of maple (v. A. Of sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus )) or plane (z. B. Platanus occidentalis ) were used. This occasionally results in translation errors.

distribution

Distribution of the mulberry fig tree

The mulberry fig tree is widespread in subtropical Africa south of the Sahara. The occurrence ranges from South Africa to Sudan , Ethiopia , Eritrea and Yemen .

Common names

The mulberry fig has or had the following common German names : Ägyptischer Feigenbaum, Wilder Feigenbaum, Pharaofeigen, Wemernod and Wemernot.

literature

  • Karin Dzionara: The Garden in Ancient Egypt. In: Hans Sarkowicz (Ed.): The history of gardens and parks. Insel, Frankfurt am Main 2001, ISBN 3-458-34423-3 .

Web links

Commons : Mulberry Fig ( Ficus sycomorus )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b Urania plant kingdom: flowering plants. 1, Urania, Berlin 2000, p. 139.
  2. J. Galil and D. Eisikowitch: On the Pollination Ecology of Ficus sycomorus in East Africa. In: Ecology. 49/2, 1968, 259-269, JSTOR 1934454 .
  3. ^ TJ Wright: Amos and the sycomore fig. In: Vetus Testamentum. 26/3, 1976, 362, JSTOR 1517304 .
  4. Annie Francé-Harrar : The last chance for a future without need , Munich 1950, according to reprint 2007 on page 320 f.
  5. ^ Alix Wilkinson: Symbolism and Design in Ancient Egyptian Gardens. In: Garden History . 22, 1994, 1, 3.
  6. Nili Liphschitz, נילי ליפשיץ: Timber Analysis of 'En Gedi Wooden Coffins: A Comparative Study. בדיקות העץ של ארונות עין גדי: מחקר השוואתי, 'Atiqot / עתיקות 96, 1996, 86, JSTOR 23458346 .
  7. J. Galil and D. Eisikowitch: On the Pollination Ecology of Ficus sycomorus in East Africa. In: Ecology. 49/2, 1968, 260, JSTOR 1934454 .
  8. ^ Fritz Rienecker, Gerhard Maier: Lexicon for the Bible . Brockhaus, Wuppertal 1998, Lemma mulberry tree, sycamore fig .
  9. ^ TJ Wright: Amos and the sycomore fig. In: Vetus Testamentum. 26/3, 1976, 363, JSTOR 1517304 .
  10. Suembikya Frumin, Aren M. Maeir, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Ehud Weiss: Studying ancient anthropogenic impacts on current floral Biodiversity in the Southern Levant as reflected by the Philistine Migration. In: Nature, Scientific Reports. 5, 2015, 13308, DOI: 10.1038 / srep13308 .
  11. Nili Liphschitz: Timber Analysis of Household Objects in Israel: A comparative Study. In: Israel Exploration Journal. 48, 1/2, 1998, 86, JSTOR 27926500 .
  12. Nili Liphschitz: Timber Analysis of Household Objects in Israel: A comparative Study. In: Israel Exploration Journal. 48, 1/2, 1998, 86, JSTOR 27926500 .
  13. Nili Liphschitz, נילי ליפשיץ: Timber Analysis of 'En Gedi Wooden Coffins: A Comparative Study. בדיקות העץ של ארונות עין גדי: מחקר השוואתי. 'Atiqot / עתיקות 95, 1996, 86, JSTOR 23458346 .
  14. J. Galil and D. Eisikowitch: On the Pollination Ecology of Ficus sycomorus in East Africa. In: Ecology. 49/2, 1968, 260, JSTOR 1934454 .
  15. ^ Georg August Pritzel , Carl Jessen : The German folk names of plants. New contribution to the German linguistic treasure. Philipp Cohen, Hannover 1882, page 152, ( online ).