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3-Jun-2006
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#1 |
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The Cat's Apprentice
 
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Green Island fruit and some fascinating history
I have two green island ficus that are producing figs! Of all the ficii individuals and species I've worked with, these are the only ones that have ever produced fruit. Here are some pix.
One plant I picked up from Wild Things Bonsai at last year's show in Columbus, and the other is a cutting from the same plant. Speaking of cuttings, here is an incredibly interesting story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/...storyId=5446137 It appears that the first human endeavor in cultivating crops was reproducing figs via cuttings. Wow. I feel a new kinship to my slanty-browed ancestors. pootsie |
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Green Island fruit and some fascinating history |
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3-Jun-2006
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#2 |
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The Cat's Apprentice
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3-Jun-2006
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#3 |
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Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
USDA Zone: 11
Posts: 5,412
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From the second link:
"The so-called agricultural revolution—when ancient humans began to domesticate crops—is now increasingly seen as a long and multifaceted transition, as humans gradually shifted from scattered planting of grains in the wild to farming with domesticated varieties." Hmmmm... increasingly seen as a long and multifaceted transition... No, really? I thought that people just woke up one day and decided they they knew how to cultivate and harvest crops.  Sometimes sentences like this sort of make you sit back and wonder.... Joanie |
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4-Jun-2006
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#4 |
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Nudist Bonsai Farmer
Join Date: May-2005
Location: Daintree Rainforest & Great Barrier Reef
Country: Australia
USDA Zone: 6tropical
AHS Heat Zone: humid
Posts: 565
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Looking good Pootsie! Don't know why they're fruiting now?
Aint it the end of your winter? All my GI's are in fruit and loving it at the moment...but I'm going into winter? One thing....bet ya can't grow baby figs from em...I've tried everything but we just don't have the pollinator wasp here or whatever they use to pollinate themselves...at least they propagate from cuttings easily... Happy growing mate Tai |
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4-Jun-2006
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
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Tai,
I think you do have native microcarpa growing all over the place if I remember when I was down in your area. Jerry
__________________
Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.us/ |
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4-Jun-2006
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 483
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I have an interesting fig story too. I have a ficus tree in my yard that puts out alot of fruits all the time. I believe it is a Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa) which is very common in Southern California. I thought this type of fig requires some tiny wasps for pollination and that these wasps are not supposed to be here in the USA. But guess what, I have bunch of seedlings from this tree every year. They just sprout up everywhere, but mostly in my bonsai and orchid pots which I sometimes put under the fig tree for shade. I guess those tiny wasps are here already or may be some other insects took over this pollination role. Here's a picture of one small ficus sapling popping up in my orchid pot.
Si Last edited by SiNguyen : 4-Jun-2006 at 05:22 PM. |
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4-Jun-2006
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#7 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
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Si,
As you say it could be that the wasp is there or there could be another insect pollinator or parthenogenetic- setting seed without fertilization. Jerry
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Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.us/ |
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4-Jun-2006
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#8 | |
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bonsaiTALK Master
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 483
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Quote:
Si |
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4-Jun-2006
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#9 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
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Si,
If there wasps around you should see them in the figs, sooner or later. I do not know about pollinating wasps in California. I know that Hawaii has introduced some and they now have figs that reproduce and are becoming pests. Thanks for your kind comments on my book. Which, by the way, is nearly sold out. Jerry
__________________
Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.us/ |
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5-Jun-2006
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#10 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Orange County, California
Country: USA
Posts: 483
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Hi Jerry, what you said about these ficus being a pest species in Hawaii is alarming to me. I haven't thought of that. There's really nothing stopping them here in California either. These things do pop up rather quickly in my yard! Here's another picture of one popping up in my Sago palm bonsai pot, and I have a couple more like that still. In fact, I started a clump of them together for a banyan style bonsai last year, but the leaves could not be reduced very much. Thanks, Si
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