THE MAGIC OF THE FIG

Did you know that figs aren’t actually fruits, but inflorescences, or simply upside-down flowers?

Figs don’t bloom in the same way as other fruit trees, such as almond or cherry trees. Figs have a very curious history. In addition to not being a fruit, they need the “sacrifice” of an insect to reproduce, a pollinating hymenoptera that dies inside the fig.

An example of a “special” collaboration in nature between an insect and a plant… what a great teacher nature can be!

“In nature, we see a lot of competition, so the interaction between the fig and the fig wasp is surprising. The two move together to adapt to each other and try to survive. If one dies, the other will also disappear.”

Darío Abel Palmieri, Department of Biology, University of São Paulo.