Ficus fistulosa


Ficus fistulosa
Moraceae
Rosales

"fistulosa" means "hollow throughout", referring to the hollow young twigs of the tree (Ooo don't tempt me, jkkk). 

Ficus flowers are found within syconia (figs). So essentially we are eating many tiny fruits when we consume a single fig. Figs are known to be pollinated by species specific fig wasps, aka specific fig = specific wasp(s), which enter through the ostioles of the syconia. Fig wasps also lay eggs in some fig flowers. This means that the loss of either party may result in the loss of the other party.

Separately, I was once presented with a thought experiment: what if the fig is not enclosed (is damaged for whatever reason, eg. partially eaten) and other insects passively contribute to the pollination?

Reference:
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/4/1/4181

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