Ficus Religiosa
Family : Moraceae oraceae
Common Name : Peepal tree
English Name : Peepal tree
Hindi Name : Aswattha, Pipal
Telugu Name : Pippalamu
Bengali Name : Asbatta
Tree Characteristics :
It is commonly known as sacred fig and Bo-tree. In Hindi it is known as Pipal and the Sanskrit name is Ashwattha. The Peepal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. It is worshipped all over India and is usually seen in temples. Siddhartha attained enlightenment and become Buddha under a Peepal tree. These trees live for long years. In Sri Lanka a Peepal tree which is more than 2000 years old exists. The bark of the tree is an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. Peepal is native to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is also seen in China. It belongs to the Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family.
Nursery Practice :
Ripe fruits, which are dark purple in colour are collected from the ground. Ripe fruits are crushed in water and washed to get clean seeds. The seeds then dried. Seed retain viability for about 2 months. Seed - germinates best at a temperature around 20°c. Air layering,Tip cuttings around 4 - 12cm long, taken from lateral branches. Germination Percentage up to 90 and the germination period is about 15 – 20 days. Cuttings also gives good result.
Economic Use:
Ø Every part of the tree can be used as medicine. Leaves and tender shoots used as purgative and in skin diseases. It is used for ulcers. Bark is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, diarrhoea and dysentery..
The tree yield latex. The tree is one of the recorded hosts of the Indian lac insect and the leaves are used to feed camels and elephants. Wood is less used and is suitable for match boxes, packing cases. This is a sacred tree to the Hindus and Buddhists and therefore, often planted near temples.
