About 7 years ago, while in Athens, Greece, our guide asked if I liked figs. I said I loved figs. He asked if I would like some fig trees from the Acropolis. After I asked him if he was crazy, I said sure. He drove to the fence around the Acropolis, climbed up on his car, and broke off about 10 cuttings of a really large fig tree inside the fence. It was January, so I couldn't see any leaves, but the tree was truly a tree you could climb. I brought the cuttings home (didn't get arrested at the airport), and rooted the cuttings. I ended up with three thriving fig trees. This year, about May, they produced a tremendous number of figs; very large, nearly black, red centers, and very tasty, although somewhat stronger flavored than Brown Turkeys. They ripened by the first week of July, and immediately started producing more figs. The second batch didn't fare well and I didn't keep any. SO! Large black, red center, early ripening, from the Acropolis. I can't find out what kind they are. I wrote the Acropolis Museum, but they didn't answer. The best I can determine, they may be Vasilika, but I'm not sure. I want to propogate them and share them, but I'd like to tell folks what kind they are. Any ideas?
Unless there is a single dominant cultivar that is effectively the only one grown in the area of collection (and produces fruits like yours) all you can do is continue as you presumably have been, that is comparing photos and descriptions of various kinds until it appears there is one that is exactly the same. Ideally you would locate and vist a collection with live planted specimens (and reliable labeling or planting records!) where you could compare live specimens (using fruit and leaf samples from your trees).
They are more likely from a self-sown seedling rather than a named cultivar. In which case, an exact equivalent won't exist, apart from the parent tree. You could always name it Ficus carica 'Acropolis' (unless someone else has already had the same idea!).
Hi, you might like to compare it with the zillions of varieties on this site: http://figs4fun.com/ ...try "Chios-C" or ask on their forum. good luck...and enjoy! Brian
THAT is a cool idea. Nothing Googles with that name other than your response. Ficus carica Acropolis. I like it.