Habit Fruiting twig

ODISHA

State Tree: Ashwatha (Odiya)

Botanical Name: Ficus religiosa L.

Family: Moraceae

Common Names: Bodhi Tree, Holy Tree, Peepal Tree, Sacred Fig (English); Pipal, Pipli (Hindi); Arali

(Kannada); Ashwatha, Pippala (Sanskrit); Arasa, Arasu (Tamil); Bodhi-drumamu, Raavi (Telugu).

Etymology: Ficus is the ancient Latin name for pear-like multiple fruits, figs, and religiosa refers to the

sacred status of the tree.

Botanical Description: A large or medium-sized tree, to 20 m tall with spreading branches and pale

white bark. Leaves simple, alternate, triangular-ovate or suborbicular, truncate to subcordate at base,

entire or undulate at margins, caudate at apex, 4 – 15 × 4 – 11 cm, reddish brown when young later

greenish; lateral nerves 5 – 9 pairs, webbing near margin; stipules deltoid-acuminate, 8 – 12 mm long,

yellowish brown. Figs or hypanthodia in axillary pairs, sessile, depressed-globose, 1 – 1.2 cm in diam.,

yellowish green, dark-purple on maturity.

Flowering & Fruiting: May – August.

Range of Distribution: India (throughout the country; largely planted as an avenue and roadside tree

especially near temples), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar and Thailand and

introduced and cultivated in Southeast Asia, Middle East, North Africa and America.

Economic Importance: The leaves and twigs are lopped for cattle and goats. The wood is used for

packing cases and in sacrificial fires by Hindus.

Traditional Uses: The tree is worshiped by the Hindus and Buddhists. The wood is used in sacrificial

fires by Hindus.

Medicinal Uses: Traditionally the bark is used in the treatment of gonorrhea, ulcers, and the leaves

used for skin diseases. Bark also has antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiviral, astringent, antidiarrhoeal

properties. Latex is used as a tonic. Leaves and tender shoots are used as purgative and in skin

diseases. Leaves reported to have antivenom activity. Fruits are used as laxative, and fruit powder is

used in asthma.

L. Rasingam

Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad.