Figs may appear to have no flowers, but in reality, no fruit can form without them. The round, green, fruit-like structure seen on a fig tree before it ripens is actually a flower. As the calyx and peduncle grow, it develops into a fruit. The skin of the ripe fig is the calyx, while the red pulp inside is the flower. Therefore, despite common misconceptions, figs do have flowers.
Since plants cannot move on their own, they rely on the wind and insects for pollination. However, because fig flowers are enclosed within the fruit, they cannot depend on external agents like the wind or typical pollinating insects. Instead, fig wasps play a crucial role in their pollination.
A fig wasp enters a fig through a small opening and lays its eggs inside. Once the larvae hatch, they grow, molt, mate, and then emerge. The fig wasps that exit the fig carry pollen with them and enter another fig flower, facilitating pollination. In this process, fig wasps assist fig trees with pollination, while the figs provide a secure environment for the wasps’ eggs to develop. This mutual reliance forms a symbiotic relationship, ensuring the survival of both the fig tree and the fig wasp.
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