Fig Pollination: Which Figs Need Wasps?

Q: I said only Mission figs need wasps; my sister disagreed. Who's right?

A: I was wrong—it's 'Calimyrna' figs that require wasp pollination. Common figs ('Brown Turkey', 'Celeste', 'Mission') don't need pollination. They produce pouch-like syconia with internal flowers that develop without fertilization. 'Caducous' figs ('Smyrna', 'Calimyrna', 'Marabout') need a tiny wasp to enter and pollinate. The crunch in Fig Newtons is seeds, not wasp eggs—enzymes digest the wasps.

The Incredible Edible Fig