Ficus Religiosa

 Botanical Name: Ficus Religiosa L.


Family: Moraceae

Common Name: Sacred Fig

English Name: peepal trees, pipul, sacred botree

Description: is an evergreen tree with a wide-spreading crown; it can grow 15 - 30 metres tall. In older trees the bole can become buttressed and as much as 270cm in diameter. The tree often starts life as an epiphyte in the branch of a tree; as it grows older it sends down aerial roots which, when they reach the ground quickly form roots and become much thicker and more vigorous. They supply nutrients to the fig, allowing it to grow faster than the host tree. The aerial roots gradually encircle the host tree, preventing its main trunk from expanding, whilst at the same time the foliage smothers the foliage of the host. Eventually the host dies, leaving the fig to carry on growing without competition. Leaves pink stipules 1-1.5cm long lateral ovate-lanceolate puberulous petiole 60-120mm long stout, glabrous articulated a gland at the apex ablow lamina 5-13 x 4.5-12cm broadly ovate base truncate or subcordate apex caudate acuminate, margin entire undulate, glabrous, shining, coriaceous 5-7-ribbed from base lateral nerves 8-10 pairs pinnate, slender, prominent beneath, looped near the margin intercostae reticulate prominent flowers unisexual inflorescene a syconia sessile,axillary in pairs obovoid or globose twing wall thick basal bracts 3,3-5mm long ovate-obtuse silky-puberulous persistent, orifice closed by 3 apical bracts in a disc 2-3mm wide internal bristles none flowers of 4 kinds male flowers ostiolar, sessile, in one ring tepels 2 ovate-lancelolate free, reddish stamen, filaments 0.2mm  anther oblong parallel female flowers sessile tepals 3.4, linear-lanceolate free, brownish glabrous overy superior, ovoid-oblong 1mm red-browen style 1.5mm lateral, stigma rounded gall flowers similar to female syconium 4-8mm across ripening pink, purple or black achenes smooth.

Flowering & Fruiting: November-February

Distribution: E. Asia - Bangladesh; India; Nepal; Pakistan, Myanmar. East Himalayas planted and naturalized in India and neighboring countries.

IUCN : No

District: All District of Tamil Nadu

Uses: The small figs are used mainly as a famine food, eaten when nothing better is available. The leaves and twigs are alterative, antidote, aphrodisiac, astringent, antigonorrhoeal and laxative. It is used as an antidote against bites of venomous animals, and for the treatment of haemoptysis and fistula. Fresh sap from the leaves is used to cure diarrhoea, cholera and for wound healing. An infusion of the bark is drunk as an antidiabetic. A decoction of the bark is used as skin wash to treat scabies, ulcers and skin diseases. 

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