| Ficus racemosa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Ficus |
| Subgenus: | F.subg. Sycomorus |
| Species: | F. racemosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ficus racemosa | |
| Synonyms | |
Ficus glomerataRoxb. | |
Ficus racemosa, thecluster fig,red river fig orgular,[2] is a species of plant in the familyMoraceae. It is native to Australia and tropical Asia. It is a fast-growing plant with large, very rough leaves, usually attaining the size of a large shrub, although older specimens can grow quite large and gnarled. It is unusual in that its figs grow on or close to the tree trunk, termedcauliflory.
The fruits are commonly eaten as a vegetable after the seeds have been discarded, and made into stir-fries and curries. The fruits are a favourite staple of thecommon Indian macaque. It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the two-brand crowbutterfly (Euploea sylvester) of northern Australia.[3]
According to theShatapatha Brahmana, the Audumbara tree was created from the force ofIndra, the leader of the gods that came out of his flesh when he overindulged insoma:
From his hair his thought flowed, and became millet; from his skin his honour flowed, and became the aśvattha tree (Ficus religiosa);from his flesh his force flowed, and became the udumbara tree (Ficus glomerata); from his bones his sweet drink flowed, and became the nyagrodha tree (Ficus indica); from his marrow his drink, the Soma juice, flowed, and became rice: in this way his energies, or vital powers, went from him.[4]
In theAtharva Veda, this fig tree (Sanskrit:Umbara orAudumbara)[5] is given prominence as a means for acquiring prosperity and vanquishing foes.[6] For instance, regarding an amulet of theAudumbara tree, a hymn (AV xix, 31) extols:
It has been described in the story of RajaHarischandra of theIkshvaku dynasty, that the crown was a branch of thisAudumbara tree, set in a circlet of gold. Additionally, the throne (simhasana) was constructed out of this wood and the royal personage would ascend it on his knee, chanting to the gods to ascend it with him, which they did so, albeit unseen.
The tree has been worshipped as Abode under which LordDattatreya teaches that to teach first learn from others however small or big. There is always something to be learnt from One and to learn new things one has to learn to unlearn as per the time. The tree is seen planted in all the places associated with Lord Dattatreya who is seen as an icon Rishi a sage who represents all the three of the trinity of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Creator, Preserver and destroyer) needed for each one to learn by unlearning the obsolete. this is the plan of evolution in analogy. Its leaves are an indispensable part of many Hinduhavans.
Both the tree and the flower are referred to as theAudumbara (Sanskrit,Pali;Devanagari: औदुंबर) inBuddhism.[8]Udumbara can also refer to the blue lotus (nila-udumbara, "blueudumbara") flower. Theudumbara flower appears in chapters 2 and 27 of theLotus Sutra, an importantMahayanaBuddhist text. TheJapanese wordudon-ge (優曇華, literally "udon/udumbara flower") was used byDōgen Zenji to refer to the flower of theudumbara tree in chapter 68 of theShōbōgenzō ("Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma"). Dōgen places theudonge in the context of theFlower Sermon given byGautama Buddha onVulture Peak.Udonge is also used to refer to the eggs of thelacewing insect. The eggs are laid in a pattern similar to a flower, and its shape is used for divination in Asianfortune telling.[9]
InTheravada Buddhism, the plant is said[by whom?] to have used as the tree for achieved enlightenment (bodhi) by the 26thLord Buddha, Konaagama (Sinhala:කෝණාගම).
TheOvambo people call the fruit of the cluster figeenghwiyu and use it to distillombike, their traditional liquor.[10]
The bark ofFicus racemosa is used as ahome remedy. In India, the bark is rubbed on a stone with water to make a paste, which can be applied to boils or mosquito bites. Allow the paste to dry on the skin and reapply after a few hours. The rough leaves of the plant can also be used to remove caterpillar bristles lodged in skin. A common folk remedy is to rub the affected area lightly with a leaf, which effectively dislodges the stinging hairs.
