Ficus religiosa Syn.: F. peepul, F.superstitiosa, F. caudata (Common name: Peepal, holy fig tree, peepul, sacred fig tree) – Moraceae, a tree with great religious significance. No other tree is claimed to have such long life – one in Sri Lanka, said to have been planted in the year 288 B.C., still lives and flourishes.
In Hindus mythology the tree is associate with the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Vishnu being reputed to have been born under a Peepul, which is therefore Vishnu himself in the form of a tree. A grand peepal tree is a perfect shade tree, and village meetings are often conducted under a peepal tree. Ripe fruits are violet in colour (fig) and edible which also sustain wildlife and biodiversity. The tree parts are also used in herbal medicine too. F. religiosa is the state tree of the Odisha, Bihar and Haryana. Haldwani,
Reference
Surendra Parihar
Ex.Professor and Head.
Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
Pusa,
New Delhi,
India 110012