ARAYAL

ARAYAL ( അരയാൽ) 

                                

Scientific Name ¦-  Ficus religiosa Linn.

Family ¦-  Moraceae

Vernacular Names ¦– 

        English ¦-  Sacred fig, Peepal tree

        Malayalam ¦-  Arayal

        Hindi ¦-  Pippal

        Sanskrit ¦-  Asvatthah, Pippalah

        Bengali ¦–  Asvatha

        Gujarat ¦–  Jari

        Kannada ¦–  Aswatha

        Punjabi ¦–  Pipal

        Tamil ¦–  Arasu

        Telungu ¦–  Ravi

Distribution and Habitat ¦-  It is common throughout India, often planted in the vicinity of the temples.

Chemical Constituents ¦-  Bark gives beta-sitosterol and its D-glucoside,. Stem bark contain vitamin K, stigmasterol, phytosterolin and 4% of tannin. Leaves have protein and amino acids.

Parts Used ¦-  Stem bark, Leaves and young shoots, flower, Fruits and Latex

Properties ¦-  Bark is hypoglycaemic, antidermatic, antiinflammatory. Stem bark is antiprotozoal, anthelmintic and antiviral. Bark is astringent, antigonorrheic, febrifuge, aphrodisiac and antidysenteric. Syconium, leaf and young shoot are purgative. Fruits are laxative and digestive. Seeds are refrigerant and laxative.

Uses ¦-  It is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids and gastrohelcosis. A paste of the powdered bark is a good absorbent for inflammatory swellings. It is also good for burns. Leaves and tender shoots have purgative properties and are also recommended for wounds and skin diseases. The dried fruit pulverized and taken in water cures asthma. The latex is good for neuralgia, inflammations and haemorrhages

Formulations ¦-  Nalpamaradi taila, Saribadyasava, Candanasava, Karnasulantaka, Valiyamarma gulika etc

Botany ¦-  Peepel tree or sacred fig is a large deciduous tree with few or no aerial roots, frequently epiphytal. Leaves leathery, broadly ovate, entire, undulate, tip narrowed into a linear, tail like point, petiolate, petiole 7.5-10 cm long. Male flowers few, only near the mouth of the some receptacles, sessile. Gall and fertile flowers sessile or pedicellate, the gall flowers much more numerous than the fertile females and many of with out perianth. Figs axillary, sessile, in pairs, globose, slightly vertically flattened, 12 mm in diameter, dark purple when ripe.

Agro Techonology ¦– 

        Soil and Climate ¦–  Deep, alluvial sandy loam with good drainage. The annual rainfall requirement for this species is 500 mm to 5000 mm during the monsoon season. The maximum temperature is 46ºC, while the minimum seldom goes below freezing point.

        Propagation ¦–  seeds, stump or branch cuttings and wildlings

        Sowing ¦–  Ripe fruits are collected, rubbed and washed to get clean seed which is dried under sun before fresh sowing or storage. Seed is dibbed in poly bags or broadcasted on seed beds either in March-April or June-July and lightly covered with thin soil.

        Transplanting ¦–  Rooted cuttings are to be transplanted to prepared pits.

        Manure ¦–  No regular manuring is required. Irrigation is not a must as a plant is hardy.

        Irrigations ¦–  Irrigation is done at regular intervals.

        Plant protection ¦–  The plant is not attacked by any serious pests or diseases.

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