On Thursday 11 August 2005 09:30, Gunnar Gällmo wrote:

> Is there anyone in this list knowledgeable about
> botanics, who could answer that question?
>
> The reason for my asking it is the fifth stanza of the
> Uragasutta in the Suttanipaata:

]snip]

> like flowers which are vainly sought
> in fig trees that bear none,

[snip]

> Now I know nothing about Ficus Glomerata, which is the
> meaning of "udumbara" according to the PTS dictionary;
> but I have never heard of a tree bearing fruits
> without having flowers first.
>
> So is this tree really an exception?
>

The fig tree has flowers that do not look like flowers. What
would become petals in other fruiting species instead becomes
the outer skin of the fruit, so one does not see the usual
display.

There is a prayer in Japan that includes the line, "The wonderful
udumbara flower blooms upon this day."

We had a fig tree in the garden of the monastery where I began my
training, and one of my duties as a novice was to climb in it
and pick a bowl of fresh figs from time to time.
--
Edward Cherlin
Generalist & activist--Linux, languages, literacy and more
"A knot! Oh, do let me help to undo it!"
--Alice in Wonderland
http://cherlin.blogspot.com