Ficus religiosa L.

Scientific Name: Ficus religiosa L.    

Family: Moraceae

Common Name: Holy fig tree

Hindi Name: पीपल

Description: Trees, 15-25 m tall, epiphytic when young, crown wide when mature. Bark gray, smooth. Stipules ovate, small. Petiole slender, as long as or longer than leaf blade, articulate; leaf blade triangular-ovate, leathery, abaxially green, adaxially dark green and shiny, margin entire or undulate, apex acute to caudate, Figs axillary on leafy branchlets, paired or solitary, red when mature, globose, 1-1.5 cm in diam., smooth; peduncle 4-9 mm; involucral bracts ovate. Male, gall, and female flowers within the same fig. Male flowers: few, near apical pore, sessile; calyx 2- or 3-lobed, stamen 1; filament short. Gall flowers: pedicellate; calyx 3- or 4-lobed; ovary globose, smooth; style short; stigma enlarged, 2-lobed. Female flowers: sessile; calyx 4-lobed, broadly lanceolate; ovary globose, smooth; style thin; stigma narrow.

Economic Importance

• Integration of peepal trees with agricultural crops could play an important role in meeting the fodder requirements of animals.

• Peepal not only produce fodder, but also balance climatic conditions, control soil erosion, improve soil structure and its fertility. .

Medicinal Importance:

• The extract of leaves is used to heal wounds due to cuts or burns. 

• The root bark extract has anti-ulcer and blood sugar lowering properties. 

• Its leaf and bark extract are used to relieve toothaches and reduce swellings

Cultural Importance:

• In Sanatan Dharma, Peepal is called the tree of Gods. It is said that the deities reside on every leaf of the tree. Especially on Saturday, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu reside in the Peepal tree.

Religious Importance:

• It has been worshiped for centuries as it denotes different things according to various Vedas. It is believed that Kali Yuga started when Lord Krishna died saying- " Among the trees, I am Aswattha.", i.e., Peepal.