VLVL(4)(m) Oh Fig!

[Vincent A. Maeder]

	"under a fig tree"  (VL, Ch. 4, p. 39)  A tree that bears its
fruit without visible blossoms and before leaves appear.  Mr. Pynchon is
probably referring to the Calimyrna fig tree.
http://www.californiafigs.com/history/
	"1. fig tree [n.] Any moraceous tree of the tropical genus
Ficus; produces a closed pear-shaped receptacle that becomes fleshy and
edible when mature."
http://ultralingua.net/results.html?lookup_action=en|english|english&loo
kup_letters=fig+tree
	"When the fig-tree putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is
nigh."
http://65.66.134.201/cgi-bin/webster/webster.exe?search_for_texts_web182
8=nigh
	"The trees said to the fig-tree, come thou, and reign over us.
Judges 9."
http://65.66.134.201/cgi-bin/webster/webster.exe?search_for_texts_web182
8=personify
	"And presently the fig-tree withered away. Matt.21."
http://65.66.134.201/cgi-bin/webster/webster.exe?search_for_texts_web182
8=presently
	"It is said that Judas hanged himself on a fig-tree."
http://www.bartleby.com/81/6414.html
	"The popular Calimyrna fig, golden brown in color, is the Smyrna
variety that was brought to California's San Joaquin Valley from Turkey
in 1882, and was renamed Calimyrna in honor of its new homeland."
http://www.californiafigs.com/history/
	There are some nice correlations with Adam and Eve and their fig
tree.  Then, of course, there's the symbolism of Cleopatra's end with
that asp hidden in the fig basket.
http://www.artmagick.com/Paintings/painting3582.aspx
http://www.quotationspage.com/special.php3?file=w980830