Description

Cluster Fig also known as Countryfig and Indian Fig is a tree belonging to the Moraceae family of plants. (Scientific name: Ficus racemosa). Trees up to 10 m tall, glabrous. Can grow up to. Stipules long, thickly leafy. Leaves 10-20 cm long. Has length. It is native to Asia. They are able to withstand temperatures of 10 ° C to 20 C under favorable conditions. But they are generally abundant in the tropics. Figs are also known as Udumbaram, Udumbaram, Jantuphalam, Yajnangam and Suchidrumam. It is native to Australia and tropical Asia. It is a fast-growing plant with large, very rough leaves, usually attaining the size of a large shrub, although older specimens can grow quite large and gnarled. It is unusual in that its figs grow on or close to the tree trunk, termed cauliflory.

Characteristics:

Cluster Fig Tree is an attractive fig tree witha crooked trumk and a spreading crown. Unlike the banyan, it has no aerial roots. The most distinctive aspect of this tree is the red, furry figs in short clusters, which grow directly out of the trunk of the tree. Those looking for the flower of goolar should know that the fig is actually a compartment carrying hundreds of flowers. One might wonder how these flowers enclosed in a ball are pollinated. The flowers are pollinated by very small wasps that crawl through the opening in search of a suitable place to reproduce (lay eggs) Without this pollinator service fig trees cannot reproduce by seed. In turn, the flowers provide a safe haven and nourishment for the next generation of wasps. Goolar is a tree commonly found in cities and towns. It has evergreen leaves, if it is close to a water source. Otherwise it sheds its leaves in january. Figs have been traditionally used by children to play. Thin sticks can be joined by inserting them in goolar figs to make interesting shapes. The young twigs of immature trees produce guava-shaped fruits. They grow like branches from the side of the stalk. The inside of these is hollow. Inside are many small seeds.

Medicinal Uses:

Cluster Fig Tree is a popular medicinal plant in India, which has long been used in Ayurveda, the ancient system of Indian medicine, for various diseases/disorders including diabetes, liver disorders, diarrhea, inflammatory conditions, hemorrhoids, respiratory, and urinary diseases. The bark of Ficus racemosa is used as a home remedy. In India, the bark is rubbed on a stone with water to make a paste, which can be applied to boils or mosquito bites. Allow the paste to dry on the skin and reapply after a few hours. The rough leaves of the plant can also be used to remove caterpillar bristles lodged in skin. A common folk remedy is to rub the affected area lightly with a leaf, which effectively dislodges the stinging hairs.