05-10-2003, 05:02 AM
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Questions on chemistry of fruits
In article , [P
van Rijckevorsel] wrote...
Iris Cohen schreef
[...]
Another example is the cyconium, that fascinating invention of the genus
Ficus, which is actually the entire inflorescence turned inside out. The
fruits themselves are insignificant little things on the inside which
contain the tiny seeds, if there are any.
+ + +
Nitpicking time?
It is a synconium and it is turned outside in ;-)
One of Murphy's Laws stikes again [anyone correcting someone's
spelling or grammar will commit a similar error while doing so].
It's "syconium", with just the one "n". From the Greek "sycon",
meaning "fig", IIRC.
They are indeed invaginated [some related genera have disc-like
open inflorescences which could make a good starting point for
evolving figlike ones], with the flowers [and later, small 1-seeded
true fruits] lining the inner surface.
[Quitting now, before I become the next victim...]
[snip]
cheers
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