Tag: Fig wasp

Did you know that what we commonly call a fig is not a fruit but a type of enclosed flower cluster known as a syconium? The question of what are figs actually made of reveals a captivating botanical process unlike any other.

Figs are technically not fruit but inverted flowers, and for centuries, some species have relied on a symbiotic relationship with fig wasps for pollination. This unique process is at the heart of the misconception surrounding why vegetarians do not eat figs, a belief that conflates a natural biological cycle with human-led animal exploitation.

The common belief that figs contain digested wasps has led many to question their dietary classification. This fascinating mutualistic relationship, which seems to imply carnivorous behavior, is a complex biological partnership rooted in millions of years of evolution.