New research shows that wild fig species in Kenya turn partially to stone, locking away carbon effectively forever and boosting soil health, making them prime candidates for agroforestry and reforestation initiatives.
This is an amazing revelation to me. What could be the evolutionary reason for this chemical pathway, and why are figs such great benefactors in nature, and why isn't it a fig in the story of Eden?
Hi Brian. The oxalate carbonate pathway is a coming together of two fairly common phenomena: many plants produce calcium oxalate and many microbes/fungi can convert calcium oxalate to calcium carbonate. What's rare is the confirmation of active pathways, but there are likely many awaiting discovery.
Figs are great benefactors especially because of their relationship with specific pollinator wasps. Because of this relationship, figs are available year round, meaning that fig trees sustain more species of wildlife than any other plants (and those animals disperse the seeds of thousands of plant species). Fig trees have been doing this for 80+ million years. Their relationships with other species are fundamental to ecosystem functioning in many places.
They were in the Garden of Eden too - Adam and Eve made the first clothes from fig leaves. And while Eden's tree of knowledge is not named in the Bible, it has often been assumed to have been a fig tree. See Michelango's painting in the Sistine Chapel here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/michelangelos-sistine-chapel-figs
Thanks for the time filling me in. I'm sure your book has a lot more details, so I'm hoping to read it. Here in my northern climate (Vermont) my domestic figs are a small summer harvest, but worth the effort of protecting them in winter.
Incredible research. We always hear about trees generally locking away carbon (not about the part after they die), but not specifically about the power of individual tree species.
Yes, the fact that trees only store organic carbon temporarily is part of why we cannot depend on tree planting schemes to offset carbon emissions, unless those trees are ultimately going to be turned into furniture, etc. The new findings about the trees producing inorganic carbon that does not break down are fascinating.
Very cool! And this tree can grow across most of tropical Africa, from West Africa to Zambia. Multiple wins: food, enhanced carbon storage, soil improvement, habitat etc.
Yes, a great example of a multi-purpose tree. Interestingly, one of the other fig species that the study showed to be a stone-former is Ficus natalensis, which has been used in Uganda for centuries as a sustainable source of barkcloth. See: https://planetficus.substack.com/p/the-fig-trees-that-clothed-royalty
This is a beautiful bonus to the already exceptional bounty of this type of tree. I hope to read more about this from you as more studies emerge. It could be revolutionary to storing carbon long term, which we are in need of right now! Thanks for your contribution on substack!
Thanks Tempestt. I will certainly following this area of research now, so will report new findings that emerge. Interestingly, one of the three fig species in this study in Kenya was Ficus natalensis, which has another great value in Uganda. See: https://planetficus.substack.com/p/the-fig-trees-that-clothed-royalty
This is an amazing revelation to me. What could be the evolutionary reason for this chemical pathway, and why are figs such great benefactors in nature, and why isn't it a fig in the story of Eden?
Hi Brian. The oxalate carbonate pathway is a coming together of two fairly common phenomena: many plants produce calcium oxalate and many microbes/fungi can convert calcium oxalate to calcium carbonate. What's rare is the confirmation of active pathways, but there are likely many awaiting discovery.
Figs are great benefactors especially because of their relationship with specific pollinator wasps. Because of this relationship, figs are available year round, meaning that fig trees sustain more species of wildlife than any other plants (and those animals disperse the seeds of thousands of plant species). Fig trees have been doing this for 80+ million years. Their relationships with other species are fundamental to ecosystem functioning in many places.
They were in the Garden of Eden too - Adam and Eve made the first clothes from fig leaves. And while Eden's tree of knowledge is not named in the Bible, it has often been assumed to have been a fig tree. See Michelango's painting in the Sistine Chapel here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/michelangelos-sistine-chapel-figs
Thanks for the time filling me in. I'm sure your book has a lot more details, so I'm hoping to read it. Here in my northern climate (Vermont) my domestic figs are a small summer harvest, but worth the effort of protecting them in winter.
Incredible research. We always hear about trees generally locking away carbon (not about the part after they die), but not specifically about the power of individual tree species.
Yes, the fact that trees only store organic carbon temporarily is part of why we cannot depend on tree planting schemes to offset carbon emissions, unless those trees are ultimately going to be turned into furniture, etc. The new findings about the trees producing inorganic carbon that does not break down are fascinating.
Very cool! And this tree can grow across most of tropical Africa, from West Africa to Zambia. Multiple wins: food, enhanced carbon storage, soil improvement, habitat etc.
Yes, a great example of a multi-purpose tree. Interestingly, one of the other fig species that the study showed to be a stone-former is Ficus natalensis, which has been used in Uganda for centuries as a sustainable source of barkcloth. See: https://planetficus.substack.com/p/the-fig-trees-that-clothed-royalty
This is a beautiful bonus to the already exceptional bounty of this type of tree. I hope to read more about this from you as more studies emerge. It could be revolutionary to storing carbon long term, which we are in need of right now! Thanks for your contribution on substack!
Thanks Tempestt. I will certainly following this area of research now, so will report new findings that emerge. Interestingly, one of the three fig species in this study in Kenya was Ficus natalensis, which has another great value in Uganda. See: https://planetficus.substack.com/p/the-fig-trees-that-clothed-royalty