Question

INFORMATION ABOUT PIPAL TREE

Answer 1

The Peepal tree is a species of the Sacred Fig tree or 'Ficus Religiosa' and is found mostly in the region from the Indian subcontinent to Indochina and Southwest China. The tree is deciduous, grows quickly and can reach an average height of 100 feet, with the trunk being thick and 10 feet in diameter. The bark of the peepal is light grey, smooth to touch and peels off easily. The tree sheds its bright green leaves in the summer months of March and April and the fruit borne by this big tree – a small type of fig ripens by May. These figs resemble purple berries and are found in pairs just below the beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Like other members of its tree family such as the Banyan fig, this tree is one of the longest living ones, making them truly something to cherish and protect from being cut down for building purposes.

In India, peepal trees are found widely in Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and the Ranthambore National Park. It is quite easy to grow peepal trees as cuttings or the berry seeds will do. But, like all other plants, this tree requires a healthy amount of sunlight and adequate water.

The fact that the peepal tree is of widespread importance in India is supported by the many names different cultures use to refer to it. 'Peepal' is the name used in Hindi, Marathi and Punjabi, 'Bodhi' in Sanskrit, 'Asvattha' in Bengal, 'Piplo' in Gujarat, 'Mui Chifka' in the Oriyan culture, 'Pippali' among the Telugu-speaking people in the Deccan and finally, 'Al' or 'Aryal' in Kerala.