Sacred Fig - Your Art History Reference Guide!

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Sacred Fig


The Sacred Fig Ficus religiosa, also known as Bo or Peepul, is a species of banyan fig native to India, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam. It is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree up to 30 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 m.


The leaves are somewhat unusual, being cordate in shape with a distinctive extended tip; they are 10-17 cm long and 8-12 cm broad, with a 6-10 cm petiole. The fruit is a small fig 1-1.5 cm diameter, green ripening purple.

The Bodhi tree and the Sri Maha Bodhi propagated from it are famous specimens of Sacred Fig. The known planting date of the latter, 288 BC, gives it the oldest verified age for any angiosperm plant.

Last updated: 10-24-2005 02:02:37
Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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