Ficus religiosa

Ficus religiosa

Family: Moraceae

Common name: Peepal

The Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) is an evergreen or deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall, with irregularly shaped, wide-spreading branches. Unlike some other species of Ficus, it does not have aerial roots hanging from its branches. The trunk is typically well-formed, often with low buttresses. The bark is grey with brownish specks, smooth in texture, and exfoliates in irregular, rounded flakes. The leaves are alternate, spirally arranged, and broadly ovate, with a glossy, coriaceous texture. They are dark green and have a unique tail-like tip, turning pink when young.

The tree produces axillary, sessile, unisexual flowers, and the fruit, or figs, grow in pairs. These figs are rounded, flat-topped, green when unripe, and smooth, ripening to a purple color with red dots.

The ripe fruit of the Peepal tree has several medicinal properties. It is considered cooling and is used to relieve foul taste, thirst, biliousness, and various blood and heart-related ailments. It acts as a laxative and aids digestion. In traditional medicine, the fruit is used to treat toothaches, while dried fruit is believed to cure asthma. The seeds are useful for urinary discharge, and the young bark is known for its astringent properties. In times of famine, the figs are consumed as a food source.