Sycamore Fig Tree Facts: Habitat, Appearance, And Other Details

Sycamore figs are a sweet and aromatic edible fruit.

This fruit comes from the sycamore fig tree. This tree is native only to some parts of Africa and the Middle East.

Sycamore is considered the oldest species of the fig family. There are many references to the tree in religious texts like the Bible.

The sycamore fig tree is known for its aromatic and very sweet fruit or fig. The tree's flowers can only be pollinated by a particular family of wasps with whom the sycamore shares a symbiotic relationship. This fig is consumed by humans, animals, birds, and even insects.

The bark and dry wood of the tree are used to make fire or even for medicinal purposes. The tree has a vast water requirement, so it is likely found near water sources like streams and rivers. The invasive roots are aggressive; hence, care is needed when replanting near buildings.

Explore everything about the sycamore fig tree.

Classification Of The Sycamore Fig Tree

Ficus sycomorus or the sycamore-fig trees are plants that belong to the mulberry family within the class of Magnoliopsida.

This fig tree species belongs to the class of Magnoliopsida. All members of this class are flowering plants. Next, these trees belong to the Moraceae family. This family is also known as the mulberry or fig family and belongs to the order of Rosales.

Lastly, this woody species belongs to the genus of Ficus. The Ficus genus is made up of 900 species (vines, trees, and shrubs). The Ficus species are generally evergreen and distributed across the world. Sycamore fig is scientifically known as Ficus sycomorus.

Habitat And Distribution Of The Sycamore Fig Tree

The Sycamore tree can be found in parts of Africa and the Middle East. These trees need warm climates to thrive. This ancient fig tree member generally thrives in riverine areas along with woodlands.

First cultivated in Egypt and Israel, the sycamore fig is a semi-deciduous tree. Its native habitat remains in parts of Southern Africa and the Middle East. In terms of habitat, these are woodland species; however, they are primarily found in riverine areas with nutrient-rich soil.

Growth Of The Sycamore Fig Tree

The pollination system of the sycamore is super unique. A particular species of wasp helps pollinate this fig tree, with which they share a symbiotic relationship.

The lifecycle of the sycamore tree begins when the seed is sown and then grows. However, the fruit of this tree cannot be formed unless it gets pollinated by a particular species of wasp, the fig wasp.

The female fig wasps will enter the fig cavity and lay their eggs there. When they do so, they also pollinate the flowers within.

Once the eggs hatch within the fruit, the wasps leave the fig tree, and the fruits will begin to ripen. This process is repeated at least four times a year; the peak season for flowering and fruiting the sycamore fig tree is from July to December.

Physical Features Of The Sycamore Fig Tree

Physically, the sycamore is tall and has a yellow paper-like bark. The thin and softwood renders it useless for most purposes.

The sycamore is a tall fig tree with a height that can reach 65 ft (20 m). The tree's young branches will be covered in long hairs while the bark is yellow and paper-like.

The main trunk can have a diameter of about 6.5 ft (2 m). Its canopy can be around 20 ft (6 m) wide, providing shade and shelter to birds and insects.

The mulberry-like figs grow in clusters on branches; they are about 0.7-2 in (20-50 mm) diameter and are attached to the branches with their 0.9-1.3 in (25-35 mm) long stems.

The color of the figs is red to yellowish-red. The trunk is soft, and the color varies from light brown to yellow.

FAQs

Q: What is special about the fig tree?

A: Fig trees are pollinated by their unique pollinator, a type of wasp. Fig wasps have coevolved with the Ficus species. Another remarkable thing about the fig tree is that it has no blossoms. The flowers are enclosed as crunchy seeds inside the fruits.

Q: How long do sycamore fig trees live?

A: The sycamore tree is a hardy species known to survive between 500 and 1000 years.

Q: What is a sycamore tree in the Bible?

A: The sycamore tree has been mentioned seven times in the Old Testament. The most important story is when Zacchaeus climbed the tree to glimpse Lord Jesus. Because the sycamore tree assisted Zacchaeus to see the Lord, this tree symbolizes clarity.

In the Jewish Bible, the sycamore tree has been mentioned several times. The fig tree is considered one of the seven native plants of Israel. These trees were a source of wood and food for the locals and symbolized nourishment.

Q: What is sycamore?

A: Sycamore or Ficus sycomorus is a member of the fig tree family found in Africa and the Middle East. In Greek, sycamore means mulberry fig.

Q: What is a sycamore fruit?

A: The sycamore fruit is an edible fruit that looks like mulberry and grows in clusters. It may look similar to the common fig fruit but is inferior in taste and more aromatic. The fruit is not grown commercially.

Q: What does a sycamore fig tree look like?

A: The sycamore fig tree resembles a mulberry tree in its wood, leaves, and fruits. The trees will grow up to 65 ft (20 m).

Q: Where do sycamore trees come from?

A: Sycamore trees can be found in parts of Africa and the Middle East.

Q: Can you eat sycamore figs?

A: Yes, the sycamore figs are edible.

Q: What does a sycamore fig taste like?

A: The sycamore fig tastes very sweet.

Q: Why do sycamore trees lose their bark?

A: The bark of the sycamore tree breaks as a natural lifecycle process. When new layers are formed within the bark, the outermost layer is pushed out. This results in the bark cracking and breaking.

Q: How far should a sycamore tree be from a house?

A: Due to the aggressive nature of the sycamore's root system, it is best to grow this tree around 15 ft (4.5 m) from a house.

Q: How tall do sycamore fig trees grow?

A: A sycamore tree can grow up to 65 ft (20 m).

Q: Are any figs poisonous?

A: No, figs are not poisonous.