Sycamore fig

Sycamore fig (Ficus sycamorus)
radial section at 100x

Description

Sycamore fig (Ficus sycamorus)
tangential section at 100x

A tall, fig tree, Ficus sycamorus, native to Africa, the Near East and southwest Asia. The sycamore fig produces a light, fibrous wood with a coarse texture. It was used in ancient Egypt for roof timbers, mummy cases, wagons, and statues (Gale et al 2000).

Synonyms and Related Terms

Ficus sycamorus; Egyptian fig tree; sycomore fig (sp)

Resources and Citations

• R.Gale, P.Gasson, N.Hepper, G.Killen, "Wood" in Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, P.Nicholson, I.Shaw (eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 334-371.

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Sycamore." Accessed 21 May 2004.