Bo Tree, Peepul Tree
Ficus religiosa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a deciduous tree. It grows to 35 m tall. The crown is one. It has fibrous aerial rots. The trunk can be 30-40 cm across. When young it grows living on and attached to other plants. The bark is grey and smooth with cracks along it. The young branches has some hairs. The leaf stalk is thin and up to 15 cm long. The leaves are alternate. The leaf blade is triangle shaped or oval and 9-17 cm long by 8-12 cm wide. They are wavy and thinly leathery. They are shiny above. They are reddish when young. They have 5-7 main veins. The base is heart shaped. The tip of the leaf is long and thread like. There are 5-7 secondary veins on each side of the midrib. Flowers are borne inside the figs. Both male and female flowers occur and the male flowers are few and near the opening. The figs are round but flattened. They do not have stalks and occur in pairs. They are dark purple when ripe.

It is the sacred tree of the Hindus. There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It often grows attached to other plants on rock walls and steep slopes. They are common all over India. It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

A famine food. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaf-buds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. They can also be grown from layers.

It is a fast growing tree. Trees can live for hundreds or thousands of years.

Its other names

Local names

Ali, Ara budi, Arasa marum, Arasamaram, Arasu, Asatha, Asatthwa, Ashawatha, Ashuvatham, Bawdi-nyaung, Bodhi tree, Bodi, Bunut kaloja, De, Lagat, Lesan al-asfor, Mai-nyawng, Nyaung bawdi, Pakri tussa, Peepal, Pho-sii-ma-haa-pho, Pimpal, Pipal, Pipar, Pipari, Pipri, Po ton, Pu ti shu, Raghie, Rai, Ray, Sacred fig, Sali, Thon-pho

Synonyms

Irostigma religiosa (L.) Gasparrini;