What is "syconium"

Syconium \Sy*co"ni*um\, Syconus \Sy*co"nus\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? the fig.] (Bot.) A collective fleshy fruit, in which the ovaries are hidden within a hollow receptacle, as in the fig.

n. (context botany English) A collective fleshy fruit, in which the ovary are hidden within a hollow receptacle, as in the fig; a hollow ball with a stalk at one end and an opening (ostiole) at the other, with flowers or fruits on the inside.

1. n. the fleshy multiple fruit of the fig consisting of an enlarged hollow receptacle containing numerous fruitlets

2. [also: syconia (pl)]

A syconium is the type of inflorescence borne by figs (genus Ficus), formed by an enlarged, fleshy, hollow receptacle with multiple ovaries on the inside surface. In essence, it is really a fleshy stem with a number of flowers, so it is considered both a multiple and accessory fruit. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word sykon, meaning "fig".