 The sycamine is a deciduous to semi-deciduous tree and sheds its fruit in a prolific manner, by reason of which the Sages of Israel prohibited a Jewish planter from planting such trees within the radius of 50 cubits from his neighbor's cistern.All sycamines that currently grow in the Land of Israel ("Ficus sycomorus") are believed to be invasive species, but which are now cultivated in Israel.The tree is native to East Africa.