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Lion-tailed macaque eating Ficus racemosa fruits
Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons by T. R.
Shankar Raman
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Introduction
It is known as Ficus racemosa or Ficus glomerata. The guler is the species of the
family of Moraceae plants. It is popularly known as the Cluster Fig Tree or the Indian
Fig Tree or Goolar or Atti in south India. The plant is found in S-E Asia,
Australia, Malaysia and India.
It is regarded as a holy tree due to its
several uses in India. The people of Maharashtra believe that lord Dattatreya
lives on this tree.
The figs grow close to the tree trunk and are
called cauliflory are the favourite staple food of the Indian macaque, and is a
food plant for the caterpillars of butterfly.
The Hindu and Buddhist ascetics used to consume the fruits, while
travelling through the forests on their way to Taxila in ancient times.
To get rid of fig wasps present inside the fruit, it is better
to break the figs into halves or quarters, discard the seeds and place it in the
sunlight for an hour or so.
The people use it to make traditional liquor from the fruits.
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| Pickled ficus racemosa fruits Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons by vi:user: Viethavvh |
Uses
The bark, leaves, roots and
raw or ripe fruits are equally useful.
1. The bark of the tree has
healing power. Make a paste of the bark by rubbing it on stone with water and
apply it on the skin. Let the paste dry and reapply after a few hours to get
relief in boils or mosquito bites.
2. The sweet and ripe fruit is
very nutritious appetiser and helps in constipation.
3. The extract of the roots
taken for few days helps in complete control of diabetes.
4. In case of blood oozing out
in piles, the juice of the leaves id very beneficial.
5. The milk of the tree helps
in bleedings.
6. In case of hand and feet
blisters, the application of the milk of the tree alleviates the pain and repairs the blisters.
7. In mouth ulcers and bleeding
gums, the gurgles with the extract of the bark are very helpful.
8. The juice of ripe fruits
helps in summer heat and inflammation of intestines.
9. The intake of the juice of
the leaves helps in heart and lever disorders.
10. Take unripe fruits and mix
equal amount of brown sugar in it and prepare the powder. Take 5 gram of it
with milk to increase the power and virility.
