Dec. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 973 



24. F. religiosn, L. " Peepul" or "Pipal." The " Sacreci Fig Tree " of 

 India and Ceylon. See tt. 67^ and 84« of vol. i, Ann. Bof. Gard., Calcutta. 



The sacred "Bo" tree at Anuradhapura, in Cpylon, which was brought 

 from North India and planted in 288 B.C., is probably the oldest, or nearly 

 the oldest tree in the world, historically known. (Emerson-Tennant, 

 "Ceylon," ii, 613, quoted by Gamble.) The sacred tree at Budh Gya, under 

 which Gautama Buddha sat, is only now represented by a successor. 



24. Ficus religosa, L. 

 Botanic Gardens, Sj-diiey. 



Gamble describes this Fig as usually epiphytic, but without aerial roots. 

 It is one of the best known of In(han trees, it is coiniiinnly iilanted in 

 villases, and held sacred botli bv Hindus and Buddhists. Bv Hindus the 

 cutting of a Pipal tree is looked upon as a great sin, so that it is rarely 

 felled, and though it is very destructive to forest trees it is ditticult to 

 get it cut. 



