Moraceae. 65 
application in lumbago and rheumatism, and in Lahore the milky 
juice has been employed to aid in the oxidation of copper. 
The Hindus consider the banyan to be sacred and state that 
Brahma was transformed into a Vada tree, } ada being one of the 
vernacular names of this tree in India. The Hindus regard it a 
sin to destroy a Banyan ; women are ordered to worship it on a cer- 
tain day of the year (May 15th, the J esht shudh), and are told that 
by doing so they attain one of the heavens. 
In Honolulu the tree is badly infested by scale insects which are 
followed by a black fungus (Capnodium lanosum) giving the tree an 
ungainly appearance. 
Ficus religiosa L. 
The Peepul Tree. 
The Peepul is a large glabrous usually epiphytic tree with long 
petioled, ovate, rounded leaves the apex of w T hich tapers into a linear- 
lanceolate prolonged acumen. The fruit is borne sessile, is dark 
purple and has broad leathery basal bracts. 
The Peepul is a native of the sub-Himalayan tracts but is culti- 
vated throughout India as high as 5,000 feet elevation but rare in 
the arid regions of Northwestern India. In Honolulu it is not so 
commonly planted as the Banyan but fine specimens may be seen at 
Moanalua Gardens, and in private grounds and parks about Hono- 
lulu. It is well suited for avenues. It is declared sacred by the 
Hindus and Buddhists, the former viewing it as the female to the 
Banyan. It is worshipped and vows are made to it. The Buddhists 
believe that the incarnation of Buddha took place under this tree, 
and that he received the Buddhaship under the famous sacred Peepul 
at Budhgaya in India not far from Benares. 
Ficus benjamina L. 
Chinese Banyan. 
The so-called Chinese Banyan is of much smaller stature than the 
Bengal or Indian Banyan, reaching a height thirty to forty-five feet, 
it too is epiphytic and assumes tree form. Its branches are long and 
drooping. The leaves are leathery, oblong-ovate, quite smooth, 
pointed at the apex and rounded at the base. The fruits are axillary, 
solitary and sessile, of a dark purple color, fleshy when mature, about 
a half an inch or less in diameter. It occurs wild along the base of 
the eastern Himalayas to Assam, Burmah and the Andaman Islands. 
