FlCUS RELIGIOSA. (Nat. order Uvticese.) 



Fl(JUS, Linn.— GEN. CHAR, Flowers unisexual, minute, enclosed iu a hollow globular ovoid or pear-shaped succulent receptacle called a 

 fig or simaeium ; the minute aperture closed by bracts turned inwards. Male flowers usually near the mouth of the fig. Perianth 3 to 6 lobed. Stamens 

 usually 1 or 2, rarely more. Female flowers usually lining the greater part of the cavity. Perianth entire, or of 2 or more lobes or segments. Ovary 

 1-celled, with 1 pendulous or laterally attached ovule. Style usually lateral, with a more or leas oblique variously shaped stigma. Fruiting fig 

 usually enlarged, the enclosed seed-like nuts surrounded each by its membranous or pulpy persistent perianth. Embryo curved, in a fleshy albumen. 

 Trees or shrubs, with the juice usually milky. Leaves alternate, or very rarely opposite, entire or divided. Figs (receptacles) solitary, or in clusters of 2 

 or more, axillary, or on the old wood below the leaves, usually with 3 small bracts at their base, or at the base of the pedicel. Benth, Fl. Hong Kong 

 p. 326. TJrostigma, Gaspamni. 



FlCUS RELIGIOSA. (Linn.) Avery large tree, root spreading horizontally and near the surface, trunk up to 25 feet 

 in girth, bark pretty smooth ash-colored, branches numerous spreading, leaves (deciduous in the cold season) alternate cordate with a 

 very long cuspidate point 1^-2 inches long, the margins scollop- waved, glabrous on both sides and shining above, 6-7 inches long, 3-3 J- 

 inches broad, the primary veins very prominent, the veinlets beautifully reticulated, petioles round smooth slender 3-4£ inches long, 

 stipules sheathing soon caducous, figs in axillary pairs sessile or shortly pedicellate vertically compressed, smooth, blackish when ripe 

 with 3 bracts at their base. — Urostigma religiosa, Gasp. ; — Wight lc. t, 1967. 



This very beautiful tree is held very sacred by the natives in India and Ceylon ; it is common in our forests and cultivated throughout 

 India, particularly as an avenue tree and as a sacred tree ; it is every where known by its Hindoostani name Peepul, and is called s Arasi in Tamil, 

 Mai in 1'elugu, and Bo in Ceylon, The wood, like that of the Banian (F. Indica) and most other species, is white, light and very perishable, rather 

 coarse grained and brittle and not durable, and only fit for fuel, and bad even, for that. Silk luorms are very fond of its leaves. A cubic foot 

 unseasoned weighs 40-42 lbs., and 34 lbs. when seasoned, and its specific gravity is - 544. 



Analysis. 



A male floret removed from the inside of the receptacle or fig. 

 Stamens, front and back view. 

 The young fig. 



The fig cut open, shewing the mass of minute florets. 

 The fig, back view. 

 Scale or bract. 

 Female floret. 

 Ovary cut vertically. 

 Embryo removed from the seed. (Analysis copied from Wight's drawings.) 



FlCUS TsiALA. 



1 . Portion of a branch in flower. 



2. A receptacle or young fig cut open. 



3. A male floret. 



4. The same open. 



5. The stamens, 



6. A female floret. 



7. The same open. (Drawn from living specimens.) 



314. 



1,2. 



3,4. 



5. 



6 & 7. 



8. 



9. 



10, 11. 



12. 



13. 



