On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 02:52:04 +0000 (UTC), "
wrote:


No answers to previous post, so... is it possible to ID a type of fig
tree by pictures of tree, leaves, and/or growing fruit, or do I have
to wait 'til October when the fruits is ripe (clue!) to pin this down?
These are growing in SE Virginia, USDA zone 7b.

7b? [web search... fig hardy to 0 degrees F, so ok] they might be
sassafras, but if you see little hard green figs, (and you should have
seen ripe figs by now) then it's a fig

otherwise, figs varieties are difficult ot determine. friut on one tree
can visually vary much. and growing conditions cause a lot of variatoins.

ira condit (uc riverside, i think) was teh expert who classified figs
(50's and 60's i think) He (with assistnace) found many synonyms!

So I've read since. I don't suppose it matters, as long as the jam is
good. :-) I believe I started this quest because the fella with the
tree that supplies the figs that make the jam wanted to know what kind
they are. I will tell him "edible" and leave it at that!

Thanks for the reply. I'll see about getting a good photo to post in
any case.