Bael Tree

Aegle marmelos

Beng/hindi/English: Bel / Bael

A mid-sized thorny deciduous tree with trifoliate leaves. The 3-6’’ almost spherical fruits with greenish hard shell, when present makes this tree easy to identify.

Bark: Pale, somewhat corky with shallow furrows

Leaf: Trifoliate, the central one largest and with a long stalk; side ones with very short stalk. Leaf margins have minute roundish saw-tooth like

Flower: 3 cm wide, greenish white, borne in short, open clusters along the branches. Petals bent backwards and numerous yellow stames.

Fruit: 3-6’’ almost spherical fruits with greenish hard shell. The edible pulp is yellowish.

Season: Flowers mostly open in April and May soon after the new leaves. The fruit takes about a year to ripen, and ripe fruit may be obtained in Bengal from December to July (peaking in March).

Range/habitat:  The tree is indigenous in most of the dryer parts of India and ascends the hills up to an altitude of 4000 feet in the Western Himalayas. Probably not truly indigenous to Kolkata.

Trivia and notes:  Few other tree is considered more sacred (as well as medicinally important) by Hindus. The fruit pulp is relished, but it is more revered for its healing power, especially for dysenteries. In most of the pujas, especially of Shiva the Bael leaves are a must.