Phoenix theophrasti ancient Greek ‘father of botany,’ had described several types of palms, including one from Crete. Apart from the usually inedible dates and upright fruit clusters, the Cretan species can appear quite similar to the cultivated date ("Phoenix dactylifera"). "Phoenix theophrasti" grows up to 15 m tall, usually with several slender stems. The leaves are pinnate, 2–3 m long, with numerous rigid greyish-green linear leaflets 15–50 cm long on each side of the central rachis. Dead leaves are marcescent, remaining attached to the stem for years after withering. The fruit is an oval yellowish-brown drupe 1.5 cm long and 1 cm
Cursing the fig tree Hindu tradition, as stated in such texts as the Bhagavad Gītā, the Kaṭhopaniṣad and the Ṛg Veda, the banyan tree, or Indian fig-tree, is a symbol for the human race. As stated in the commentary to the Bhagavad Gītā, there are current theories which are confirmed by the author that Jesus was educated in India. In the story of the fig tree, Jesus sees that the tree does not bear fruit for him and so he curses it. The Hindu interpretation of this story, as stated in the Bhagavad Gītā, is that Jesus was a criminal who was considered an