Bathyphyll is a botanical term sometimes used for juvenile or lower-position leaves that differ from mature foliage higher on the plant. The concept is most often discussed in plants that show clear changes in leaf form as they mature. Fig leaves can vary with shoot age, vigor, growing conditions, and position on the tree. While the term is not commonly used by casual fig growers, it can be useful when describing why young growth, water sprouts, or shaded lower shoots may carry leaves that look different from mature fruiting branches.

Baud is the surname associated with Pierre Baud and the Baud fig collection in France. In fig discussions, the term often appears when referring to cultivars, observations, or material associated with that collection or its published fig work.

For collectors, a Baud reference may provide useful provenance context, but it should not be treated as a complete identification by itself. Variety names, source history, photographs, and fruit traits still need to be evaluated carefully before drawing conclusions about identity.

Some variety strains are attributed to this now closed nursery and have the BC, BN or Belleclare suffix appended to the variety names.. . BC is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Beginner variety is an informal term for a fig cultivar that tends to be forgiving for newer growers. These are usually figs with a reputation for reliable rooting, manageable growth, good productivity, and the ability to ripen fruit without highly specialized care. The term is relative. A fig that is beginner-friendly in a warm, long-season climate may be difficult in a cool short-season area. When choosing a first fig, growers should consider local climate, container versus in-ground culture, ripening season, disease pressure, and whether the variety is a common fig that does not require pollination.

​Belleclare Nursery, located in Plainview, New York, was a renowned fig nursery operated by brothers Chris and Bill DiPaola. For nearly five decades, it served as a pivotal source for fig enthusiasts, offering over 85 fig varieties, many of which were rare or introduced to the U. S. market through their efforts. The nursery gained national attention when Martha Stewart featured it on her program, highlighting its unique offerings and the DiPaola brothers' expertise. Belleclare's fig collection included varieties from various regions, such as Greece, Italy, and the Middle East, reflecting the diverse heritage of fig cultivation. In November 2006, Belleclare Nursery closed its operations. Before closing, they released a final catalog listing their fig varieties, each assigned a specific number. These numbers became identifiers within the fig-growing community, with varieties like Belleclare #46 (Large White Greek) and Belleclare #39 (Sicilian Black) still recognized today. Belleclare's legacy endures through the continued cultivation of its fig varieties by enthusiasts and nurseries. Their contributions significantly enriched fig cultivation in the United States, introducing diverse and flavorful varieties that remain popular among growers.​

Bending and Burying is a term used for lowering and covering stems for winter protection.. . Bending and Burying is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Beneficial Insect means an insect that helps by pollinating or controlling pests in practical plant language. Related glossary ideas include integrated pest management.. . Beneficial Insect is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Berm Planting is a term used for planting on a raised mound or ridge.. . Berm Planting is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

In horticulture, Berry Flavor describes fig flavor reminiscent of berries. For fig descriptions, Berry Flavor should be observed on ripe fruit when possible and paired with crop, weather, and photos, because fruit traits can change between breba and main crop or during a wet season.. . Berry Flavor is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Black Fig Fly (BFF), scientifically known as Silba adipata, is an increasingly problematic pest in fig cultivation, particularly in Mediterranean regions and now emerging in parts of the United States. This small black insect, about 3 to 4 mm in size, is a species of fruit fly that specifically targets fig fruits. It should not be confused with the common fruit flies seen around overripe produce; BFF has a unique life cycle and host specificity that makes it especially dangerous to fig growers. The female black fig fly lays her eggs inside immature figs using a sharp ovipositor. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin feeding on the fig’s internal tissues, causing the fruit to drop prematurely or rot from within. Symptoms are often subtle at first, but signs include unexplained fruit drop, soft spots, and sometimes a small puncture hole where the egg was deposited. Because the damage occurs internally, infestations often go unnoticed until substantial crop loss occurs. BFF can produce multiple generations in a single season, making it hard to control once established. For fig collectors and orchardists, BFF is particularly devastating due to its ability to destroy prized or rare cultivars silently and quickly. Control measures are still being studied, but efforts include sanitation (removing fallen fruit), exclusion netting, and targeted insecticide use. In regions where the fly has become established, some growers are also exploring sterile insect techniques and monitoring with bait traps. The growing concern about BFF has led to increased awareness and collaboration among fig enthusiasts and agricultural authorities. For collectors, staying informed and proactive about BFF is essential, especially as the pest spreads into new territories where figs are cultivated both commercially and by hobbyists.  See PEST ALERT – Black Fig Fly and the Black Fig Fly article on Silba adipata McAlpine. Also watch these well-received segment on combating the black fig fruit fly and Silba Adipata - Black Fig Fly Damage Identification by Eric Durtschi.

Biennial bearing is a pattern in which a fruiting plant produces a heavier crop one year and a lighter crop the next. It is well known in some tree fruits and can be influenced by stress, crop load, pruning, nutrition, and weather. Figs are not usually described by biennial bearing as strongly as apples or some other fruits, but uneven annual cropping can still occur. A young fig, a stressed container tree, winter-damaged wood, or a tree allowed to carry too much fruit may show irregular production from year to year.

Bifera means bearing two crops. In fig terminology it is commonly used for cultivars capable of producing a breba crop on older wood and a main crop on current-season growth.

This term is useful because breba and main crops can differ in timing, quantity, and quality. A bifera fig may be valuable in regions where an early crop is desired, but growers should still verify whether the breba crop is reliable in their climate and whether the main crop has enough season to ripen.

Bifurcation means a division into two branches or forks. In plant structure, it may describe the point where a stem, branch, root, vein, or other organ splits into two distinct directions. On fig trees, bifurcation is relevant when choosing scaffold branches and evaluating branch angles. A narrow or weak fork can split under fruit load or wind, while a well-placed fork may help form a balanced tree structure.

Bilabiate means two-lipped. The term is most often used in botany to describe flowers whose corolla or calyx is divided into an upper and lower lip, as in many members of the mint family.

It is not a common term for edible fig fruit, because the fig syconium encloses many tiny flowers inside the fruit-like structure. In Fig Database, bilabiate is mainly useful as general botanical vocabulary that may appear when comparing fig relatives or reading broader plant descriptions.

Biodiversity refers to variety of living organisms in a growing system. It helps connect site design and routine care with long-term productivity, access, airflow, and tree health.. . Biodiversity is most useful when it is tied to the exact plant part, season, cultivar, and growing conditions being described.

Biological pest control uses living organisms or naturally derived biological agents to reduce pest populations. Examples include beneficial insects, predatory mites, parasitic wasps, nematodes, microbial products, and conservation of natural enemies through careful cultural practices. In fig growing, biological control may help with pests in propagation spaces, greenhouses, and orchards, but it works best as part of integrated pest management. Correct pest identification matters; a beneficial organism chosen for one pest may do little for another.