Pipal (Ficus religiosa) is a large tree, native to India, held sacred by Buddhists, Jains and Hindus alike. According to Buddhist history, Gautama Buddha got enlightenment while he was meditating under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya. The tree is also called sacred fig.

The leaves rustle even at the smallest breeze. Peepul, peepal, peepul, pipul etc are spelling variations.

It is also common to find deities presented at the base of this tree in different parts of the country. Buddhist sadhus, still meditate under the tree during early mornings and evenings.

Ficus religiosa belongs to the plant family Moraceae.

The purple bauhinia (bauhinia pupurea), also known as purple orchid tree is a flowering plant found in north eastern parts of India. The trees are fast growing and reach 15 to 17 m in height. The flowers are pink and pleasantly smelling. The long fruit bears several seeds.

Sal (Shorea robusta) is a timber tree. It is however very difficult to make furniture out of this tree. The wood of the tree has long been used as railway sleepers, but now is being replaced with concrete sleepers.

Sal trees yield a resin, which is pleasant incense, smoked especially in Hindu families. The sal fruits also produce an oil, which is solid at room temperature is used to burn lamps.

This tree is however almost totally absent from Kerala or south Indian forests. It is found in the forests of Assam, Bengal, Jharkhand, Haryana etc.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is a rare tree noted for its fragrant wood, found in the forests of south India. About 90% of world sandalwood production is from India. Sandal wood finds application in manufacturing incense sticks, perfumes, aromatherapy essential oils, etc.

There are different 16th and 17th century temples in India that has sculptures made of sandalwood, which still emanates the soothing smell. Apart from those temples, sandalwood doesnÂ’t form a material for carvings for domestic use.

The tree is now declared as an endangered species and all the sandalwood trees are declared the property of government.

The tree has more religious sanctity in India. Temples all over India provide sandalwood paste to be applied on the forehead of devotees that visit the temple after taking a bath in the early morning.

Sandalwood also has application in Ayurvedic medicine. It is proved that the essential oil has anti-bacterial properties. Its efficiency in aromatherapy is also proved.

There is a peculiarity in the growth of sandalwood trees in the wilderness. Though it appears to be an independent tree staying far away from other plants, the root of the tree takes nutrients from the roots of other trees. A behind-the-curtain parasite will not be an improper adjective.

Since the prices of sandalwood oil has increased tremendously (in the tune of thousands of dollars per kg of oil), the artificial cultivation of sandalwood is now commonplace in countries like Australia, which poses a big question mark before ecological balance.

Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) also known as Indian rosewood is a native to India. It is a good timber tree. It is also used for firewood and shade.

The heartwood is resistant to termite attacks and rot. It is also the best timber to produce fine furniture and veneer. The uses range from music instruments, boats, floorings, and plywood manufacturing.

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is an evergreen tree that produces a characteristic fruit with hard, brown skin and sour fruits with 5-16 seeds enclosed. Tamarind trees are grown widely in South India, usually without any serious management. They are evergreen plants and are planted as avenue trees in areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. There are also plantations where tamarind trees are grown on a commercial scale.

Tamarind is mostly cultivated when the fruit is fully ripe. All kitchens of India (especially south Indian) will have tamarind, which is used in a variety of preparations. There are different benefits for the fruits – it increases immune system.

The wood of the tree is very strong, but is a hard to manage furniture material. Then again it is used in furniture of various kinds. Other main application of tamarind wood is in agricultural tools like plough. It is hard to get a long and straight enough piece of wood. But in places of favorable conditions, tamarind trees reach a height of up to 30 meters, with 20 meters of straight wood that have 20-35 inch diameter. Such wood can be used for furniture and in wood flooring.

Tamarindus indica belongs to the plant family fabaceae (subfamily – leguminosae or pea family).

Teak (Tectona grandis) has a long history as an important timber, used in the manufacture of domestic furniture to ships. Teak prefers warm climate and is found abundantly in almost all parts of India, especially in Kerala, central India and Ganges plains.

It is called tekku or thekku in Malayalam and Sagwan in Hindi. It is also known by the names Saigon, taku, saj, etc.

The trees grow slowly (an inch in about four or five years), erect and as a strong tree. The leaves are big (up to 40 cm long) and rough. Trees grow up to 40 meters tall.

The tree produce flowers and seeds, but the propagation is mainly by planting stumps. It is a hard thing to make the seed sprout. Teak trees grow abundantly in nature without any human intervention though. The western Ghats are an excellent source of teak wood.

The red cassia (Cassia roxburghii) is a beautiful ‘red shower tree’ native to south India. The large shrub like tree grows to a height of five meters and produces flowers of red, pink, orange or rose. They are planted as avenue trees, alongside roads and paths for shade and coolness. The flowers appear in clusters. The long fruit bears several seeds. The main attraction is clusters of bright colored flowers that almost fully cover the tree.

Red cassia is also called Ceylon Senna. The tree is found in Sri Lanka too.

The fruits and bark are used in treating different diseases.

Cassia roxburghii belongs to the plant family Caesalpiniaceae.

 

Orchid tree or the variegated bauhinia forms an exotic flowering plant found mostly in western India. It is also known by the name mountain ebony. The tree grows up to 12 meters in height. The tree produces bright white to pink flowers, which give out a characteristic pleasant smell. It bears a long pod-fruit, which bears several seeds.

It is used as an avenue tree and in landscaping.

Silk cotton tree (Cochlospermum religiosum) is a flowering tree native to North India. The silk cotton tree is one among the biggest flowering trees of India, easily reaching a height of about 15 m.

During summer, the tree produces yellow flowers that completely cover the trees. The leaves will be completely shed before the tree appears in full bloom. The flowers give out a pleasant smell. The brown fruit holds a kidney shaped seed.