Ficus religiosa

Bo Tree, Peepul Tree

Moraceae Edible: Fruit, Leaf-buds 12,161 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ficus religiosa or sacred fig is a species of fig native to the Indian subcontinent and Indochina that belongs to Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family. It is also known as the bodhi tree, bo tree, peepul tree, peepal tree, pipala tree or ashvattha tree (in India and Nepal). The sacred fig is considered to have a religious significance in four major religions that originated on the Indian subcontinent: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Hindu and Jain ascetics consider the species to be sacred and often meditate under it. Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment under a tree of this species. The sacred fig is the state tree of the Indian states of Odisha, Bihar and Haryana.

Description

A fig. It is a deciduous tree. It grows to 35 m tall. The crown is one. It has fibrous aerial rots. The trunk can be 30-40 cm across. When young it grows living on and attached to other plants. The bark is grey and smooth with cracks along it. The young branches has some hairs. The leaf stalk is thin and up to 15 cm long. The leaves are alternate. The leaf blade is triangle shaped or oval and 9-17 cm long by 8-12 cm wide. They are wavy and thinly leathery. They are shiny above. They are reddish when young. They have 5-7 main veins. The base is heart shaped. The tip of the leaf is long and thread like. There are 5-7 secondary veins on each side of the midrib. Flowers are borne inside the figs. Both male and female flowers occur and the male flowers are few and near the opening. The figs are round but flattened. They do not have stalks and occur in pairs. They are dark purple when ripe.

Edible Uses

Fruits. Edible though not tasty. The small figs are used mainly as a famine food, eaten when nothing better is available. Leaf buds. Edible though not tasty. Eaten in times of scarcity.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Ficus religiosa is used in traditional medicine for about fifty types of disorders including asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious and sexual disorders. The trunk of this tree is used by farmers as a soil leveller. After seed harvesting, the rectangular trunk is connected to tractors and levels the soil.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It often grows attached to other plants on rock walls and steep slopes. They are common all over India. It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. They can also be grown from layers.

Propagation

Seed - germinates best at a temperature around 20°c. Air layering. Tip cuttings around 4 - 12cm long, taken from lateral branches.

Other Uses

The bark contains tannins and is used as a dye for cloth. A latex obtained from the plant is used for making varnishes. A gum (is this the latex?) obtained from the tree is used as a sealing wax. It is used by artificers for filling up the cavities of ornaments. The fibrous bark is used to make paper. The greyish-white wood is very light in weight and very soft. It is moderately durable under cover and quite durable under water. The low-quality wood may be used for packing cases and matches. The wood is used for fuel.

Production

It is a fast growing tree. Trees can live for hundreds or thousands of years.

Other Information

A famine food. It is cultivated.

Notes

It is the sacred tree of the Hindus. There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Synonyms

Irostigma religiosa (L.) Gasparrini

Also Known As

Ali, Ara budi, Arasa marum, Arasamaram, Arasu, Asatha, Asatthwa, Ashawatha, Ashuvatham, Bawdi-nyaung, Bodhi tree, Bodi, Bunut kaloja, De, Lagat, Lesan al-asfor, Mai-nyawng, Nyaung bawdi, Pakri tussa, Peepal, Pho-sii-ma-haa-pho, Pimpal, Pipal, Pipar, Pipari, Pipri, Po ton, Pu ti shu, Raghie, Rai, Ray, Sacred fig, Sali, Thon-pho

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