Pipal(Ficus Religiosa) – the State Tree of Odisha
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2ND WEEK PLANT OF THE WEEK 18-11-2014 Pipal(Ficus religiosa) – The State Tree of Odisha Botanical Name : Ficus religiosa L. Uses Ficus religiosa L. Synonyms : Urostigma religiosum L. Mythological importance Ficus religiosa has been traditionally used in Indian system Family : Moraceae medicine for treatment of asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders etc. The Peepal ( Ficus religiosa ) plant has Local Name the great importance in India especially All parts of the tree used in medicine. among the Budhhist. Lord Goutama Odia : Pipal,Aswatta,Jori,Osta Buddha attained enlightenment while Hindi : Pipal Leaf : Its leaves serve as a wonderful laxative as well as meditating underneath a Peepal tree. The English: Peepal tonic for the body. It is specially useful for patients suffering site is at present Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Telugu : from jaundice and heart disorders. It helps to control the India. A branch of this tree was rooted palpitation of heart and there by combat the cardiac in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 288 BC and Ragi,Ashvathamu,Bodhi,Pippali weakness. is known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, it is the Tamil : Asogam oldest living human planted flowering Kannada : Pipar plant in the world with a definitive planted Ficus religiosa or Sacred Fig is the most Bark: The bark is astringent, sweet, cooling and aphrodisiac. Bengali : Asvatha, Ashathwa date. famous for its enlightening significance in It is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids and gastric ulcer. The paste of Asia. Hindus in India spiritually regarded Habitat powdered bark is good absorbent for inflammatory swelling Peepal tree as the holy tree and the people and useful in burns. Description use its leaves for the religious purposes. It Common, wild or cultivated, often epiphytic on trees and dilapidated is widely planted in temple premises. walls. Figs : Figs are laxative and digestive. The dried fruits are Habit : Large Tree up to 30 metres, epiphytic when Women worship this tree as a symbol of young. pulverised and administrated with water to cure asthma. fertility. Distribution India; Sub-Himalayan forest, Leaf : Leaves more or less pendulous, broadly ovate, margin often repand, very long caudate, coriaceous, dark Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Source Cochinchina, Yunnan (China), green and shining above, base coardate or truncate with 3 N.Thailand strong principal nerves and 2-4 weaker ones, looped within the margin, acumen many nerved; petiole Saxsena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. slender; stipules linear subulate. Flowering & Fruiting time : (1994). The Flora of Orissa, Vol. III, pp:1719 - 1720. June-October Figs : Figs axillary, geminate, sessile, depressed-globose, Sharma P.C.; Yelne M.B.; Dennis T.J. smooth, glabrous, dark purple when ripe. (2005 ). Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda, Vol.3, pp: 130-139. Conservation Status Not yet evaluated www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ficus_religiosa .