Ficus carica - Native to the Middle East, the common fig was one of the first cultivated plants and continues to be a vital food crop to the region. The plant sinks deep roots to find sources of water and it has the ability to tolerate seasonal droughts, an ideal trait for thriving in the dry climates of the Middle East. In a process called “mutualism,” the common fig provides the fig wasp food and shelter while the fig wasp pollinates the plant; it is the only source of pollination for the common fig tree.
- - - - -
The archaeological city of Petra, located in Jordan’s Ma'an Province, features impressive examples of rock-cut architecture. The Al Khazneh, translated as “treasury,” was excavated out of solid sandstone beginning in the first century and during the reign of King Aretas IV Philopatris. The city of Petra served as the capital for the Nabataeans, an ancient Arab people inhabiting the area. The building’s original intent was to serve as a mausoleum, but when construction was completed, it was used as a temple.
