Description
Sacred Fig. Ficus religiosa. Gautama Buddha apparently attained enlightenment (bodhi) while meditating underneath a Ficus religiosa ... I can’t vouch for Buddha , but the sheer majesty of this tree would make such claims plausible ... Indian Subcontinent & Indochina endemic , Andaman Islands and other remnant populations in region ... It is also known as the bodhi tree, pippala tree, peepul tree, peepal tree or ashwattha tree ... The dark green smooth leaves , are cordate in shape with a distinctive extended drip tip ( 10–17 centimetres long and 8–12 wide ) ... Reaching 30 metres and with trunks up to 3 metres girth it’s a handsome large tree and known to live 900-2000 years ... The small figs are 1–1.5 centimetres in diameter , start green ripening to purple.