The stem is short, and sends forth wide lateral branches forking out in all directions, which renders the tree very easy to climb.

It bears a small fig in great abundance, and probably at all seasons, which, however, is "tasteless and woody,"[212] though eaten by the inhabitants.

The sycamore is common along the Phoenician lowland, but is a very tender tree and will not grow in the mountains.
The plane-tree, common in Asia Minor, is not very frequent either in Phoenicia or Palestine.

It occurs, however, on the middle course of the Litany, where it breaks through the roots of Lebanon,[213] and also in many of the valleys[214] on the western flank of the mountain.

The maritime pine (_Pinus maritama_) extends in forests here and there along the shore,[215] and is found of service in checking the advance of the sand dunes, which have a tendency to encroach seriously on the cultivable soil.
Of the upland trees the most common is the oak.