Ficus is the genus of approximately 800 species of vines, spreading trees, or shrubs more commonly known as fig trees. These woody plants have been cultivated for thousands of years and prized for their edible fruit, which may be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. Being one of the first fruit trees to be domesticated by primitive peoples, the fig has secured a place in history, myth, and religion.

Even as the fruit of the fig tree served as a dietary staple among Ancient Greeks, a species of fig tree, F. religiosa, is said to have provided shade for Buddha during his attainment of enlightenment and has been appointed a sacred tree in India. Today, fig trees can be found in the wild and are also grown in ornamental gardens and commercial and private orchards. Furthermore, the Ficus continues to become an increasingly popular indoor houseplant. Some species of fig trees, such as the Banyan of India, have aerial roots extending from their trunks and branches that reach downward into the ground, giving support to its wide, spreading crown of interlacing vines.

Although many varieties have been naturalized throughout the world, the commercially successful F. carica, a native to the Mediterranean area, is the most well known for its fruit. The ripe fig is a fleshy pear-shaped structure containing many tiny seeds and may be yellow or deep purple in color. Figs are a nutritious source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron, and have laxative properties.