Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

February, 1955] Condit: Fig Varieties
463
Rocarde. Described by La Brousse (1774), Shinn (1893), Forrer (1894 and Eisen (1901,
spelled Rocardi). This variety was grown at the California Experiment Stations from
1890 to 1903. Shinn reported as follows: “Two figs, as grown at the Stations, appear
much alike; they are the De Constantine and Rocarde. The skin is black and green
striped; the flesh is coarse, though rich; the seeds are large; and the type appears to be
like the old Mission fig. The green color forms a blotch at the calyx, and then runs
narrowing bands toward the stem. The trees appear to grow somewhat differently.”
At Tulare the tree bore excellent crops, but the quality of fruit was distinctly secondrate.
The following description is after that of Eisen.
Figs small, pyriform, with very short stalk; eye small, sunken; skin smooth, with
indistinct ribs; color violet-purple; bloom delicate; pulp light red, solid.
Rondeletta. Described briefly by Sauvaigo (1889) and Eisen (1901) as globular fig,
with skin green, shaded brown; pulp red. Grown near Nice, France.
Rondella Negra. Described briefly by Sauvaigo (1889) and Eisen (1901) as a fig
below medium in size, turbinate, with a long neck; eye reddish violet skin purplish
black; pulp red. Grown in the vicinity of Mentone, France.
Ronde Rouge. Described by Barron (1891) and Eisen (1901, after Barron) as a
medium fig, with dull, tawny-red skin and red pulp.
Rosa. Described by Guglielmi (1908) as a variety from Surbo, Italy, maturing one
crop in August. It is obviously different from the Smyrna-type fig described by Vallese.
Figs are large, oblate, violet in color; pulp red. Consumed fresh.
Rose Blanche (syn. La Rousse). Described by Garidel (1715), Bernard (1787), Rozier
(1805), Duhamel (1809), Couverchel (1839), Duchartre (1857), Du Breuil (1876), Colby
(1894), and Eisen (1888, 1901). In his account, Bernard quoted the original Latin
description by Garidel, and designated the variety as Rose Blanche rather than Figuo
Roso. Rozier also quoted Garidel, but used the common name La Rousse without
specifying its significance. Like Rose Noire, this variety is commonly grown in
southern France. In 1893, Colby received for analysis figs labeled Rose Blanche from
Fred Roeding, Fresno, California; they were of a dark-purple color, which leaves doubt
as to their identity.
Various accounts give second-crop figs as very large, spherical, flattened at the apex;
stalk long; color greenish brown; pulp red. Good for drying.
Rose Noire (syns. Cuou de Muelo, Rolandine Noire, Ficus carica rosa nigra Risso).
Described by Garidel (1715), La Brousse (1774), Bernard (1787), Lamarck (1817), Risso
(1826), Duhamel (1809), Noisette (1829), Couverchel (1839), Eisen (1901), and Simonet et
al. (1945). See Rolland (1914) for synonymy of Cuou de Muelo. Illustrated in color by
Duhamel; black and white by Eisen and by Simonet. The original description by Garidel
stated that growers knew this variety as Cuou de Muelo, a Provençal name, apparently
referring to the distinctive neck of the fruit. Bernard and all later writers refer to it as
Rose Noire. It is ranked as one of the better figs of Provence. The following account is
after that of Simonet.