'Fruit of paradise' grows in Cibodas

'Fruit of paradise' grows in Cibodas

Theresia Sufa, Bogor

The fig tree (Ficus carica) brought to Indonesia by President
Megawati Soekarnoputri from her visit to Libya in November 2003
had grown well in Cibodas Botanical Gardens, producing its first
fruit.

Known as tin where it grows in the Mediterranean region, figs
were highly prized for both their medicinal and dietary value
centuries ago and were known as an important fruit of commerce.

The fig is frequently mentioned in ancient Greek, Roman and
Egyptian literature and even in the Bible and Koran. According to
the History of the Fig at Http://www.meccagold.com,
Zamakkhschari, an Arabian interpreter of the Koran, reported that
Muhammad the Prophet said, "If I could wish a fruit brought to
paradise it would certainly be the fig".

Lybian leader Moamar Khadafi gave a tin tree and four olive
trees to Megawati.

"The fig tree has been grafted into eight trees now ... It's
amazing that the tree, which usually only grows well in dry,
lowland areas, can also grow in upland like Cibodas," garden
manager Holif Imanuddin told reporters on Tuesday.

The deciduous tree grows like a shrub. The large, wavy leaves
are usually five-lobed but may have only three or four lobes.