For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

You can't see me....

DID YOU KNOW THAT FIGS ARE A FLOWER AND NOT A FRUIT??

This first one reminds me of John Cena on WWW ..... "You can't see me". LOL!!
When the figs are ripe you do not get the chance to pick any as they are covered in bees.
Common Fig is widely grown for its edible fruit throughout its natural range in Iran and also in the rest of the Mediterranean region and other areas of the world with a similar climate.
It has been an important food crop for thousands of years, and was also thought to be highly beneficial in the diet. The edible fig is one of the first plants that were cultivated by humans
Nine subfossil figs of a parthenocarpic type dating to about 9400–9200 BC were found in the early Neolithic village Gilgal I (in the Jordan Valley, 13 km north of Jericho). The find predates the domestication of wheat, barley and legumes, and may thus be the first known instance of agriculture.
Figs can be eaten fresh or dried, and used in jam-making. Most commercial production is in dried or otherwise processed forms, since the ripe fruit does not transport well, and once picked does not keep well. In Bengal, the fruit is called Dumur. It is cooked as a vegetable and is believed to be good for heart ailments.
Figs are one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fiber. According to USDA data for the Mission variety, dried figs are richest in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K, relative to human needs. They have smaller amounts of many other nutrients. Figs have a laxative effect and contain many antioxidants.

No comments: