Introduction
The Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) is a large, dry-season deciduous or semi-evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Indochina. It is paramount in several major religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism) and is widely revered as the Bodhi Tree (Bo Tree), under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. It is notable for its immense size, longevity (some reported to live for over 3,000 years), and the characteristic shape of its leaves.
Etymology
Peepal/Pipal: Common name used across South Asia, derived from the Sanskrit word Pippala (or Ashvattha).
Sacred Fig: The English common name, reflecting its religious importance. The specific epithet religiosa in its scientific name also refers to its sacred status.
Bodhi Tree (Bo Tree): The specific name given to the sacred fig tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodhi means 'enlightenment' in Sanskrit.
Description
| Feature | Details |
| Tree | Large, long-lived, and fast-growing, reaching 25–35 m in height with a wide-spreading crown and trunk diameters up to 3 m. Often starts life as an epiphyte on other trees. |
| Bark | Smooth, grey to brownish, sometimes exfoliating in irregular patches. |
| Leaves | Broadly ovate to heart-shaped (cordate) with a distinctive, long, narrow, tail-like drip tip (cauda), 2–5 cm long. The long, slender petiole causes the leaves to tremble in the slightest breeze. Young leaves are often pink or copper, turning dark green and glossy when mature. |
| Fruit | A fig (syconium), small (1–1.5 cm in diameter), sessile, and pear-shaped, occurring in pairs. They are green when unripe and ripen to purple or purplish-black. |
| Root System | Deep and extensive, often developing aerial roots in older trees. |
Taxonomy
| Classification Level | Scientific Name/Group |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Order | Rosales |
| Family | Moraceae (Fig or Mulberry Family) |
| Genus | Ficus |
| Species | $Ficus \text{ } religiosa$ L. |
Distribution and Habitat
Native Range: Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, and parts of Indochina (Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia).
Distribution: Widely cultivated and naturalized across tropical and subtropical regions globally due to its religious significance and use as an ornamental/shade tree.
Habitat: Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, tolerating temperatures between $0^\circ \text{C}$ and $35^\circ \text{C}$. Prefers deep, alluvial sandy loam with good drainage but can grow on a wide variety of soils and even rock crevices. It is found up to altitudes of 1,520 m.
Cultivation
Propagation: Easily propagated by seeds (dispersed by birds eating the figs) and cuttings.
Growth: Often planted near temples and in parks as a large shade tree. It requires ample space due to its size and invasive root system.
Pollination: Like all Ficus species, it has a specialized pollination relationship, requiring a specific species of wasp (Blastophaga quadraticeps) to enter the syconium (fig) to lay eggs and effect pollination.
Production
Peepal is not typically cultivated for large-scale commercial fruit production, as the figs are small and often considered famine food. Its primary "production" is its contribution to ecological and cultural services across its native range.
Uses
Religious/Social: Its most important use is for its sacred and cultural significance. It is widely planted and protected near temples, villages, and roadsides.
Medicinal: Various parts of the tree (bark, leaves, fruit, latex) are used in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Unani for treating about fifty types of disorders, including:
Treating ulcers, skin diseases, and wounds (bark).
Anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties (bark/leaf extracts).
Treating asthma and digestive problems (fruit).
Fodder: Leaves are lopped as fodder for elephants, camels, goats, and cattle due to their crude protein content (10–14%).
Timber: The wood is moderately hard and heavy but is little used in construction, occasionally converted into packing cases and bowls.
Industrial: The tree is a host for lac insects (for lac production) and some silkworms.
Phytochemistry
The Peepal tree is rich in compounds that support its traditional medicinal uses:
Polyphenols: High content of flavonoids (like kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin), tannins, and other phenolic compounds, giving it potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Alkaloids and Glycosides: Present in various parts of the plant.
Phytosterols: Compounds like $\beta$-sitosterol and its glycoside are found in the seeds.
Nutrition
The figs are small and not a primary food crop, hence comprehensive nutritional data is limited. They contain carbohydrates, protein, lipids, and minerals like calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. They are traditionally used as a laxative due to their fiber content.
Culture
Buddhism: This is the sacred Bodhi Tree, the most holy site in Buddhism. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Sri Lanka, a sacred fig grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi Tree, is the oldest verified single-species tree with a known planting date (288 BC).
Hinduism: Known as Ashvattha, it is considered sacred and associated with the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). It is mentioned in the Rig Veda and the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says, "I am the Peepal tree among the trees."
Jainism: Revering the tree under which the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira, meditated.
Keystone Species: Ecologically, it is considered a keystone species in many tropical ecosystems, providing habitat and year-round nourishment for birds and wildlife.
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