Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

February, 1955] Condit: Fig Varieties
423
Barnissotte is widely grown in Italy, in southern France, and in parts of Spain and
Portugal; it is the same variety described by Pliny and other Roman writers as “Fico
Africano,” according to Gallesio, who regarded it as one of the best figs, exquisite in
quality. P.I. No. 18,889, of the Chiswick collection, labeled Negro Largo, bore fruit
identical with that of Barnissotte. In 1926, this variety (Barnissotte) was introduced into
California from southern France as P.I. No. 69,009, but has been planted only in variety
collections. The description and illustration of Brogiotto Nero by Baldini apparently
represent a variety somewhat different from Barnissotte.
The tree of Barnissotte is vigorous, with brown terminal buds. Leaves medium to
large, glossy above, mostly 5-lobed; middle lobe elongated, broadly spatulate,
sometimes auricled; upper sinuses deep in some, of medium depth in others, lower
sinuses shallow; base cordate; margins coarsely crenate. Fruit description is from
specimens at Los Angeles and Riverside.
Brebas rare, above medium to large, pyriform, purplish black; pulp strawberry.
Second-crop figs medium to large, but variable in size and shape, from 1-1/2 to 2-3/4
inches in length, and from 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter; shape turbinate-pyriform,
sometimes oblique, with broad apex; average weight 50 grams; neck variable, either
prominent and somewhat flattened, thick, and short, or indistinguishable from body;
stalk thick, short, loosely attached, allowing many figs to drop when not quite ripe; ribs
elevated, narrow, prominent on account of deeper coloration; eye medium, open, scales
erect, chaffy; surface somewhat glossy, with distinct, pruinose bloom; white flecks large
and conspicuous, as shown by Condit (1941a, fig. 9, A); color purplish black on apex and
body, lighter toward the stalk, some specimens with green color persisting in irregular
patches on body and apex; meat white; pulp light strawberry; flavor fairly sweet and
rich. Quality good to excellent, especially in coastal climates. (Plates 10; 27, A.)
Caprified figs larger, subject to spoilage by splitting, souring, and endosepsis; pulp
dark strawberry to blood red.
Bec de Perdrix. Described by Hogg (1866) and Eisen (1888, 1901) as a good drying fig
of Spain and southern France, of medium size, pyriform, with purple skin and dark-red
pulp.
Becuelle (syn. Bucuelle). Described by Simonet et al. (1945) as given below. Found
under the name Coucourelle à Plascassier, but differing from the variety described by
Eisen (1901) under Coucourelle Gavotte.
Tree bears two crops. Brebas small, elongated-pyriform; neck prominent; skin
reddish violet; pulp of fine texture, solid, red; flavor sweet; quality very good. Secondcrop
figs similar, with sizes somewhat smaller. Good for drying.
Bellona (syns: Bellone, Belloune, Ficus carica bellona Risso). See Rolland (1914) for
synonymy. Described by Bernard (1787), Duhamel (1809), Bory de Saint Vincent (1824),
Risso (1826), Couverchel (1839), Hogg (1866), Sauvaigo (1889), Colby (1894), Eisen
(1901, after Sauvaigo), Rolet (1916), Mazières (1920), Leclerc (1925), Bois (1928), Simonet
et al. (1945), Simonet and Chopinet (1947), and Evreinoff (1947).