Koyal Bel Plant

Description

1. Botanical Information

• Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos

• Common Names: Koyal Bel, Bael, Bengal Quince

• Family: Rutaceae

• Type: Deciduous, medicinal, and fruit-bearing tree

2. Origin & Distribution

• Native To: Indian subcontinent, especially India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

• Cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions for its religious, medicinal, and ornamental value.

3. Physical Characteristics

• Height & Spread: Grows up to 10–15 meters tall with a spreading canopy.

• Leaves: Trifoliate, aromatic leaves; light green in color and compound in structure.

• Flowers: Small, pale greenish-yellow, fragrant flowers; bloom mainly from March to May.

• Fruit: Hard, woody, round to oval fruit with a sweet, aromatic pulp; used in beverages, jams, and traditional medicine.

• Bark & Trunk: Rough, grey-brown bark; trunk may be thorny in young plants.

4. Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sunlight for optimal growth and fruiting.

• Soil: Thrives in well-drained, sandy to loamy soils; tolerant of poor soil.

• Watering: Drought-tolerant once established; moderate watering during initial growth.

• Temperature: Thrives in tropical to subtropical climates, tolerates heat and low rainfall.

• Humidity: Can tolerate low to moderate humidity.

5. Maintenance & Care

• Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain shape and enhances flowering and fruiting.

• Fertilization: Organic compost or balanced fertilizer improves growth and fruit yield.

• Pests/Diseases: Occasionally affected by aphids, scale insects, and fruit rot; generally hardy.

• Propagation: Commonly propagated through seeds, grafting, or air layering.

6. Uses & Benefits

• Religious & Cultural Significance: Sacred in Hinduism; leaves and fruit used in rituals and offerings.

• Medicinal Uses: Traditional medicine uses leaves, bark, and fruit for digestive disorders, diabetes management, fever, and respiratory issues.

• Edible Fruit: Fruit pulp used in juices, jams, sherbets, and desserts.

• Ornamental Value: Planted in gardens, courtyards, and along roadsides for shade and aesthetics.

7. Lifespan

• Long-lived tree; can survive 50–100 years with proper care.