Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

460 Hilgardia
[Vol. 23, No. 11
Leaves are of medium size, 3- to 5-lobed. Description is after that of Simonet, from
specimens grown at Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Brebas medium, 2-1/2 inches long by 1-1/2 inches in diameter; average weight 35
grams; shape elongated-pyriform; neck gradually tapering from body of fig to the
stalk; ribs present, extending from stalk to apex; eye in a slight depression, closed, with
violet scales; surface finely pubescent, with pruinose bloom; color reddish violet, with
lighter shade toward the stalk and on side not exposed to the sun; skin adhering to the
violet meat; pulp red, solid, not very Juicy; seeds small, rather numerous; quality fair to
good.
Second-crop figs much smaller than brebas, pyriform; color uniformly violet-black,
pruinose; skin not checking at maturity; pulp red. Quality only fair fresh, but good
when dried.
Pissalutto Nero (syns. Pissalutto Negro, Pittalusse Noire, Sarnese Nero, Suffren,
Ficus carica suffrenia Risso). Described by Gallesio (1817), Risso (1826), Semmola (1845),
Eisen (1901), and Simonet at al. (1945). According to Gallesio, this variety is grown near
Genoa, but is inferior to Pissalutto Bianco. The following description is from that of
Simonet, taken from trees growing near Antibes, France, yielding one crop only in late
September.
Second-crop figs medium, pyriform, with prominent, slender neck; stalk long, readily
detached from the twig; eye small, open, scales pink; ribs slightly elevated; color dark
violet, shading to green toward the stalk; pulp red; seeds small, numerous; quality
good.
Poona. Described briefly and illustrated in color by Naik (1949), as the most prolific
variety on the plains of India. Figs medium, oblique-pyriform, light purple; pulp rosy,
sweet and well-flavored.
Poulette. Described by Audibert Frères (1854), Duchartre (1857), Hogg (1866), Du
Breuil (1876), Soc. Pomol. de France (1887,4947), Eisen (1888, 1901), Barron (1891), and
Wright (1894). Poulette is a French fig, reported by Du Breuil to be cultivated at
Tarascon and Salon, producing two crops. British authors describe second-crop figs as
handsome, and of excellent quality. It was introduced into California in the Chiswick
collection as P.I. No. 18,841; at Chico, both in tree and fruit, it was similar to No. 18,842;
Œil de Perdrix. In 1940, trees in the variety collection at Angleton, Texas, produced
bronze figs, with large, open eyes. Poulette has been fruiting at Riverside since 1931,
and the following account is based on its behavior there.
The tree is upright, and rather open in habit of growth; terminal buds are green in
color. Leaves medium, somewhat glossy above, mostly 5-lobed; upper sinuses rather
deep and narrow, lower sinuses of medium depth; middle lobe broad, spatulate, often
auricled, especially on leaves of sucker wood; basal lobes sometimes auricled; base
subcordate; margins coarsely crenate.
Breba crop none. Second crop fair to good; figs variable in size, from small to above
medium, up to 2 inches in diameter and 1-3/4 inches in length; shape mostly oblate to
short-turbinate, with neck generally absent, or sometimes short and thick; stalk short,
or in some specimens 1/2 inch long; ribs present, but not prominent; eye medium to
large, open, scales violet; surface dull, with delicate bloom; white flecks large, scattered;
color bronze to greenish violet; meat white; pulp light strawberry; seeds small, only
partially sclerified; quality fair to poor. (Plates 9; 27, F.)
Caprified figs are larger; color purplish black, tinged with green; pulp dark