Ficus Trees "Fig Trees" Connects Continents

TREES CONNECT CONTINENTS-CULTURE &RELIGION TOO-

I have been sharing Nature watch &study with friends, on blogs I write and manage.

The idea was to promote Awareness in 2011 -the year of Forests and Eco protection as declared by the UNO, which is a real need. As one friend so very aptly wrote to me quote"Greening is the only way forward". But, sadly enough  in a 1. 3 B population in India and esp in Cities , very few today know of them or how protect them.

Man needs Trees and Trees also need Man to care for them; Although, I personally believe that Trees do more good to Mankind-than the reverse.

WE will cover Panchavati trees next, but- now a little more focus on the 3 very popular trees in Indian samskriti- viz. the Peepul, Banyan & Oudamber, which all  come in the FICUS -FIGS Category.  

FICUS & FIGS

1. Ashwattha or Sacred Fig tree (Peepul (Pipal) , Bodhi, Bo, or Po, (Ficus religiosa)

2. Banyan Fig (Ficus benghalensis) and

3. Oudamber or Gular (Ficus racemosa) sometimes known as Ficus glomerata.

DATING THE FICUS--There is no clear evidence from older fossils of Ficus trees but a  molecular clock estimates indicate that Ficus is a relatively ancient genus, seen from a previous era and maybe even millions of years old The main radiation of extant species, however, may have taken place more recently.

FICUS

Among the more famous species are the Sacred Fig tree (Peepul, Bodhi, Bo, or Po, Ficus religiosa) and the Banyan Fig (Ficus benghalensis). Ashwattha (Ficus religiosa) & the Oudamber (Gulaar).

Ficus is a genus of about 800 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemi-epiphytes in the family Moraceae.  In the tropics, the Ficus is the most species-rich plant genus in a particular forest. Also, in Asia alone, as many as 70 or more species have been found to co-exist by study reports.FROM SOURCES:

Figs category  seem to have wide variety –

 I was mostly familiar with only Anjeer figs and that too esp in ice-creams, till I started this marvellous voage of discovery into Trees and plants. Figs are of a wide variety; for example, the Common Fig. The common names of Oudamber Figs is cluster fig, cluster tree, country fig, redwood fig, Indian fig, crattock and ju guo rong. are seen all acros india and revered;  

TREES -CONNECTING RELIGIONS & CONTINENTS

Amongst Pipal trees-the oldest living planting date is a Ficus religiosa  tree known as the Sri Maha Bodhi planted in the temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka by King Tissa in 288 BC.

The Common Fig tree (Ficus carica) is the first plant cited in the Bible. In Genesis 3:7 is described how Adam and Eva cover themselves with fig leaves when they discover that they are naked.

The fig fruit is also included in the list of food found in the Promised Land, according to the Thorah (Deut. 8). (They are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates (representing the honey).

In the deserts of Midle East Dates &Figs are and have been  survival fod and alway available and distributed to all-

FIG CHARACTERISTICS

There are three vegetative traits unique to figs.

All figs possess a white to yellowish sap (latex), some in copious quantities;

Interesting part is Wasps- provide the pollination in the Mighty Banyan Tree -and it starts as an Ephiphyte.

The twig has paired stipules or a circular stipule scar if the stipules have fallen off; and the lateral veins at the base of the leaf are steep, that is they form a tighter angle with the midrib than the other lateral veins, a feature referred to as a "tri-veined".

CULTURAL VALUE OF FIGS

Figs have religious and cultural importance in worship and for their many practical and medicinal uses.

QUOTE

Figs comprise a large genus, Ficus, of deciduous and evergreen tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs, and vines belonging to the mulberry family, Moraceae
Figs and Ficus plants are two terms for the same types of plants. The term ficus is used to refer to fig trees. The distinction between figs and ficus trees is used for classification.

Ficus is the scientific name of a genus of plants, which contains all of the species of figs within it. The classification names help distinguish between individual species and larger groups of related plants and organisms. Studies indicate about such 800 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemi-epiphytes in the family Moraceae.

Collectively known as Figs, they of the tropical origin and few in the warm temperate zone. The so-called Common Fig (F. carica) is a temperate species from the Middle East and southern Europe, which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit, also referred to as figs. The fruit of most other species are also edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife.

UNQUOTE

Rgds

TR