Monday, September 3, 2012

Our World Tuesday- the Versatile Bael

 The Bael tree Aegle marmelos is a thorny tree, sacred to the Hindus. It is usually seen in temple gardens. It can tolerate severe drought and severe flooding too. It has big brown fruit with hard shells, from which a cool, refreshing drink is made. All parts of the Bael tree are used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine.
 The Bael tree is a larval food plant for the Common Mormon butterfly Papilio polytes and
the Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus.
Healers called Siddhas live in the caves in the mountains of the Eastern Ghats. They use the leaves, bark and fruit of the Bael tree for treating severe illnesses.
This my contribution to Our World Tuesday.

8 comments:

  1. Such a delightful look at your world today!! The Bael tree is so beautiful and I love the butterflies! Wonderful captures as always!! Have a great week!

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  2. The Bael Tree is beautiful and the butterfly is a lovely sighting. Wonderful photos from your world.

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  3. The Bael Tree looks like a magnificient tree. Your butterflies look like they have just hopped over from my garden to yours :)

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  4. Wish we could learn more about the Bael tree and how it could be helpful in medicine.

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  5. Magnificent holy trees. In Japan, temples and shrines have a lot of pine trees and Japanese cedar trees. Some of old trees are considered divine because deities dwell there. Thanks a lot for sharing very interesting story.
    keiko

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  6. Beautiful scenery. The tree is a gift to your people. The butterfly is a beautiful gift also.

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  7. Nice pictures you show.
    Wish you a good day :)
    Hanne Bente

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  8. an interesting tree...i wonder if we have it here.

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