Trees of India and their Uses
Trees of India
India is the land of traditions. We come from a culture that seeks within for the answers and believe in nature as a remedial measure. In this series, City Flowers in India brings you trees of India that we all should know about. As our country is gradually losing its green landscape, it is least we could do to ensure that all of us are aware of our green heritage and how beneficial it is for us for our survival as well as for the mankind.
Banyan Tree of India
We have covered the largest Banyan tree in the world here. People believe that the basil plant grown underneath the shade of a banyan tree is very auspicious. The tree’s lifecycle begins as an epiphyte, on a host plant or tree. The age of an old tree can be recognized by its aerial prop roots that take the form of woody trunks. It is believed that lord Krishna rests on its leaves and this is why a Banyan tree along with a peepal tree is a common sighting in the premises of a temple. Given its vastness, it becomes abode to numerous plant, animals and birds that seek shelter and protection in it.  It purifies air and cleanses the atmosphere of negative energy.
Neem Tree of India
A neem tree’s branch is used as a ‘manjan.’ Bathing in water boiled with neem leaves can help one get rid of skin infections and problems such as eczema, acne and dryness. The leaves also double up as insecticide and people still keep its leaves in the wardrobe to eliminate odour and keep insects at bay. The leaves and its fruit is extremely bitter in taste and has strong yet pleasant fragrance. It is an evergreen tree and each part, be it seed, fruit, leave, bark or the flower, has a therapeutic effect.
Peepal Tree of India
A peepal tree is considered to be the most sacred tree in the Hindu religion. The tree is the powerhouse of Oxygen and can rightly be called the panacea of every ailment that plagues the mankind. From a snakebite to Asthma, impotency and spline diseases, peepal tree helps you cure and manage them all. Ayurveda describes a peepal tree to be a Godsend.
Gulmohar Tree of India
Also referred to as the May Flower tree, the tree looks gorgeous when laden with orange-red flowers. The tree is now naturalised in India and provides shade in blistering heat to the pedestrians and animals. Birds like robins and mynahs find a home in its trunk and roots.
Ashoka Tree of India
An Ashoka tree has beautiful and lush green foliage and it is not the only reason that it finds a mention here. Its flowers are bright and fragrant. It is considered to be sacred to many cultures and it is believed that Buddha was born under an Ashoka tree. In Ayurveda, an Ashoka tree is considered to be the best friend of a woman and rightly so. Its concoction can help women in their most difficult days by relieving them of the pain, irregularities and strengthening uterine muscles.
