🌳Wood apple tree
Scientific name: Limonia acidissima
Family: Rutaceae
Common names: Wood Apple, Elephant Apple, Bael (sometimes), Monkey Fruit
🔹 Uses
Edible fruit → raw, juice, sherbet, jams, chutneys
Medicinal → digestive issues, diarrhea, fever, respiratory problems
Wood → fuel, tool handles, small construction
Religious → used in Hindu rituals and offerings
🔹 Ecological Role
Provides dense shade
Adds organic matter to soil → soil fertility
Branches & fruits support bird nesting and dispersal
Carbon sequestration
Drought-tolerant → stabilizes dry soils
🔹 Fun Facts
Called “Elephant Apple” → elephants eat the fruit
Hard woody shell → long shelf life
Leaves aromatic → used in traditional medicine
Slow-growing, long-living (100+ years)
🔹 Cultural Significance
Sacred in Hindu rituals, especially for Lord Shiva
Used in temple offerings and festivals
Symbol of health, longevity, and prosperity
Provides food, medicine, and shade in rural areas
👉 Wood Apple = Fruit-bearing, medicinal, shade-providing, bird-friendly, culturally sacred tree