Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

384 Hilgardia
[Vol. 23, No. 11
Described by La Brousse (1774), Bernard (1787), Duhamel (1809), Gallesio (1817), Risso
(1826), Bory de Saint Vincent (1824), Noisette (1829), Couverchel (1839), Hogg (1866),
Pasquale (1876), Du Breuil (1876), Sauvaigo (1889, 1894), Eisen (1888, 1901), Barron
(1891), Mello Leotte (1901), Mingioli (1904), Trabut (1904), Starnes and Monroe (1907),
Estelrich (1910), Mazières (1920), Borg (1922), Sanchez (1922), Priego y Jaramillo (1922),
Leclerc (1925), Bois (1928), Bobone (1932), Bun (1942), Simonet et al. (1945), Evreinoff
(1947), and Baldini (1953). Illustrations by Eisen, Starnes, Estelrich, Bobone, Simonet,
and Baldini.
In 1817, Gallesio reported Brogiotto Bianco to be the king of figs, and believed it to be
a variety brought from Syria to Genoa sometime during the Crusades. He described
the tree as a giant among fruit trees, some measuring over two meters in trunk
circumference. The variety is widely distributed in Mediterranean countries. Estelrich
reported that on Mallorca there are orchards planted exclusively to Bordissot Blanca.
Bobone collected specimens of fruit from three different districts of Algarve, and
described it as Burjassotte Branco with three synonyms. Borg stated that it is the only
white fig not requiring caprification on Malta. Although Bourjassotte Blanche is
mentioned by Shinn (1915) as one of the varieties cultivated in California, the existence
of authentic trees is not known.
The tree bears a few brebas in some seasons only; the second crop is very prolific,
maturing over a long season. Leaves large, 3- to 5-lobed. Description of fruit is after
Simonet.
Second-crop figs medium, 2-1/4 inches long and broad, turbinate, somewhat
flattened at the apex; average weight 60 grams; neck prominent, short and thick; stalk
short; ribs present, but not marked; eye large, open, often splitting at maturity, scales
red; skin rather firm, uniformly yellowish green, with light bloom; meat white; pulp
red. Quality excellent fresh; also good for drying.
Bayoudi (syn. Adsi Abiad). Described by Guillochon (1913, 1927, 1929), and by Badie
and Ghamrawi (1931), as a variety of the Common type bearing figs medium in size,
oblate, with green skin and rose-colored pulp
Minangoin (1931) described three Tunisian varieties with similar names, all three
apparently requiring caprification. No. 5, Baioudi, from Gabès, produces medium,
oblate fruits, green in color, with red pulp. No. 17, Bioudi, from Gafsa, has small, oblate
figs, light green in color, with light-red pulp. No. 56, El-Baioudi, from Menzel Temine, is
reported to bear above medium, spherical fruits, with thick skin, green in color, and red
pulp. Valdeyron and Crossa-Raynaud (1950) report that the above names probably
refer to several clones having fruits with light-colored skin.
Berdauda (syns. Grosse Berdoua, Verdaou). Described by Du Breuil (1876), Sauvaigo
(1889), and Eisen (1888, 1901). A large, turbinate fig, greenish yellow in color, with red
pulp, grown in Provence, France.
Blancassa. Described by Sauvaigo (1889) and Eisen (1901); Ficus carica albida Risso
given as synonym. Two crops. Brebas subglobular, green, with yellow flush; pulp pale
rose. Second-crop figs subpyriform, greenish yellow; pulp red.