Aegle marmelos

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Close-up of a few mature but unripe fruits hanging from a Bael (Aegle marmelos / Rutaceae) tree in the Fruit And Spice Park, Homestead, Florida. Note the Tri-foliate leaf arrangement so typical of Bael.
Species name: Aegle marmelos

Aegle marmelos or Bael is a middle sized slender aromatic armed tree native to India and Pakistan. It has since spread to throughout South-east Asia. It is a gum-bearing tree. The tree is used in several cooking preparations in India. It is also important in religious rituals and has medicinal value. In the Hindu religion, the Tri-foliate leaves typical of the Bael is seen as the 3-pronged Trident (Trisula) that Lord Shiva holds in his right hand. The Trident symbolizes his three fundamental Powers (shakti) of Will (iccha), Action (kriya) and Knowledge (jnana). The Trident also symbolizes the past, the present and the future. Almost every Hindu temple in India would have one or more Bael trees in their courtyards.(Source:Wikipedia)


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Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Names of users who have contributed to this species page Gauravm
Date on which this page was first created 2010/12/04
This page was last modified on: 4 December 2010 23:07:36
Name of the species Aegle marmelos
ID on Encyclopedia of Life 483583
Synonyms Please check Binomial Classification section for synonyms.
Common English Names Bel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood apple
Common Hindi Names बेल Bel
Common Indian names • Hindi: बेल Bel (Hindi); হৈৰীখগোক Heirikhagok (Manipuri); Maredu (Marathi); Vilvam (Tamil); Vilvam (Malayalam); Sandiliyamu (Telugu); Bilvapatre (Kannada); বেল Bel (Bengali); Bello (Konkani); Bel (Urdu);বেল Bel (Assamese); Bili (Gujarati); Adhararuha, Sivadrumah, Tripatra (Sanskrit) Flowers of India
Origins/Meanings of the common names

Taxonomy from Encyclopedia of Life

If nothing is displayed in this section, it means the EoL ID has not been defined. Please click on Edit with form button on top and follow the instructions for filling in the EoL ID

{{#EoLOnlyHierarchy:483583}} 

Taxonomy filled in form

Angiosperm phylogeny. This image is copyrighted. Rights owned by Theodore C.H.Cole (Heidelberg) and Hartmut H. Hilger (Berlin) 2010. Please obtain copyright permissions before reuse.
Click here for the PDF of the phylogeny
Taxon Value
Regnum (Kingdom) Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Sapindales
Family Rutaceae
Genus Aegle
Source of data Encyclopedia of Life

Other closely related species

SpeciesDivisionCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Aloe veraAloe vera, Medicinal aloe, Burn plantGheekumari घीकुमारी
Acacia niloticaArabic Gum, Black Piquant, Egyptian thorn, Prickly acaciaबबूल Babool,कीकर Kikar
Saraca indicaAshokaअशोक Ashok
… further results
DivisionTaxon detailsTaxon morphology details
MagnoliophytaAlso called Angiospermae. The ancestors of flowering plants diverged from gymnosperms around 245–202 million years ago, and the first flowering plants known to exist are from 140 million years ago. They diversified enormously during the Lower Cretaceous and became widespread around 100 million years ago, but replaced conifers as the dominant trees only around 60-100 million years ago.These are seed plants like Gymnosperms, but can be differentiated by the presence of flowers, seeds containing endosperm and seeds that produce a fruit. Angiosperms are the most diverse and highly evolutionarily successful group of land plants.
SpeciesClassCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Acacia niloticaMagnoliopsidaArabic Gum, Black Piquant, Egyptian thorn, Prickly acaciaबबूल Babool,कीकर Kikar
Saraca indicaMagnoliopsidaAshokaअशोक Ashok
Adansonia digitataMagnoliopsidaBaobabGorakh imli गोरख इमली
… further results
ClassTaxon detailsTaxon morphology details
MagnoliopsidaMagnoliopsida is the scientific name for dicots. This class contains about ~1,99,350 species of Angiosperms. Eudicots are a subset of Dicots. Based on chloroplast DNA sequences, the divergence date between monocots and dicots is estimated to be ~200 million years, with a 40 million years uncertainty.Dicots are diverse in habit, with half of all the species being more or less woody-stemmed - a reflection of the usual presence of a vascular cambium in the class. Annuals, biennials, vines, epiphytes, aquatics, parasites, and saprotrophs are also well represented in dicots. Vascular bundles of the stem are usually borne in a ring that encloses the pith. Vessel elements present except in some putatively primitive woody or aquatic families. Most dicots have a primary root system derived from the radicle, although some have an adventitious root system commonly seen in the class of monocots. Cotyledons are usually 2, seldom 1, 3, or 4. Leaves are mostly net-veined.
SpeciesOrderCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Aegle marmelosSapindalesBel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood appleबेल Bel
Anacardium occidentaleSapindalesCashewकाजू Kaju
Murraya exoticaSapindalesChinese box, Orange JasmineKamini कामिनी
… further results
SpeciesFamilyCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Aegle marmelosRutaceaeBel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood appleबेल Bel
Murraya exoticaRutaceaeChinese box, Orange JasmineKamini कामिनी
Murraya koenigiiRutaceaeCurry treeकधिपत्ता
SpeciesGenusCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Aegle marmelosAegleBel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood appleबेल Bel

Based on classification

More details can be found in the Binomial Classification section.

Morphology from Encyclopedia of Life

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{{#EoLOnlyDescription:483583}} 

General morphology

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
General morphological features of the plant
Seed dispersal mechanism
Bloom type
Life cycle of the plant

How to identify this species

For a detailed description, refer to the General Morphology details above

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Type of plant
Plant height
Flower color
Flower shape
Floral symmetry
Phyllotaxy of leaves
Leaf shape
Is the leaf petiolated or sessile?
Is the leaf simple or compound?

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
IUCN Conservation Status
Indian States in which the species has been documented
Locations at which the species has been documented
Biotic zones inhabited
Details about the habitat
Is this species native to India? Yes
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Sub-Himalayan regions?
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Western Ghats?
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Eastern Ghats?

More plants native to India

Species nameCommon nameCommon Hindi namePlant typeNative plantBiotic zone
Abelmoschus moschatusOkra, Abelmosk, Ambrette seeds, Annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, Muskdana, Musk mallow, Musk okra, Musk seeds, Ornamental okra, Rose mallow seeds, Tropical jewel hibiscus, Yorka okraमुश्कदाना Mushkdana, कस्तूरीदाना Kasturi-dana, जंगली भिंडी Jangli bhindi
Acacia concinnaSoap podशिकाकाई ShikakaiWoody (Tree/Shrub)Northeastern Himalayas
Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats
Central Deccan Plateau
East Coast
West Coast
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Acrostichum aureumGolden leatherfern, Mangrove fernFernNortheastern Himalayas
Eastern Ghats
East Coast
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Outlying Islands
Aegle marmelosBel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood appleबेल Bel
Allium sativumCultivated Garlicलेह्सन Lehsan
… further results

If no maps are displayed below, it means the required data is absent. Click on "Edit with form" button on top of the page to add this information.

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Does this species have any medicinal use?

Other plants of the same family having medicinal use:

Species nameCommon nameCommon Hindi nameFamilyAilment typeMedicinal use description
Murraya exoticaChinese box, Orange JasmineKamini कामिनीRutaceaeInfectious diseases
Accidents
Pains and Inflammation
Common ailments
Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
General types of ailments this species is used for treating
Specific ailments for which the species is used
Medicinal systems which use this plant
Details of Medicinal use
Parts of the plant used for treatment
Names of some medicinal active compounds in this plant, if known.
Details of the active chemical compounds found in this plant
Is the molecular basis of the medicinal action known?
Details of molecular basis of action
Are the toxic effects of consumption of this plant known?
Details of the toxic effects of the plant species
Have there been validation/clinical studies related to this plant?
Details of the clinical studies related to the plant species

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Is this plant/plant-derived product used in food preparations? Yes User-reported
Part(s) of the plant used in the food preparations
Details of use in food preparations The fruit is eaten fresh or dried. If fresh, the juice is strained and sweetened to make a drink similar to lemonade, and is also used in making sharbat, a refreshing drink where the pulp is mixed with water, sugar and some lime juice and then left to stand for a few hours, after which it is strained.Ice cubes can be added. It is called bael ka sharbat (Hindi) or bel pana (Oriya:ବେଲ ପଣା), popular in Northern and Eastern India.People love it for it's cooling effect (stops sweating). If the fruit is to be dried, it is usually sliced first and left to dry by the heat of the sun. The hard leathery slices are then placed in a pan with several litres of water which is then boiled and simmered. As for other parts of the plant, the leaves and small shoots are eaten as salad greens.
Does this species have any religious significance? Yes User-reported
Religions which mention/give significance to this species Hinduism
Religious occasions In Hinduism, the Bel (Bilwa) tree is very sacred. It is today mainly used in the worship of Shiva. Hindus believe that Lord Shiva will be pleased with Bilwa (Bael) Pattra (leaf) Puja (worship). The importance of this tree in worship of Lord Shiva is mentioned in several sacred books. Prior to wide availability (Indian Railways) of South Indian coconuts in North India"the Bel (Bilwa) tree is very sacred. It is today mainly used in the worship of Shiva. Hindus believe that Lord Shiva will be pleased with Bilwa (Bael) Pattra (leaf) Puja (worship). The importance of this tree in worship of Lord Shiva is mentioned in several sacred books. Prior to wide availability (Indian Railways) of South Indian coconuts in North India" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., Bael fruits where also used in other deities puja rituals and crushed or offered in the same way as coconuts are today. Another name for bael fruits is Seer Phael (head fruit) because it has an outer shell like a skull (which is white, like bone) and inner yellow fleshy pulp that has some compartments with a mucus like substance. The symbolism was the same as with coconuts.

In the Hindu religion"like bone) and inner yellow fleshy pulp that has some compartments with a mucus like substance. The symbolism was the same as with coconuts.

In the Hindu religion" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., the Tri-foliate leaves typical of the Bael is seen as the 3-pronged Trident (Trisula) that Lord Shiva holds in his right hand. The Trident symbolizes his three fundamental Powers (shakti) of Will (iccha), Action (kriya) and Knowledge (jnana). The Trident also symbolizes the past, the present and the future.

Almost every Hindu temple in India would have one or more Bael trees in their courtyards.

In the traditional culture of Nepal"the present and the future.

Almost every Hindu temple in India would have one or more Bael trees in their courtyards.

In the traditional culture of Nepal" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., the Bael tree is part of an important fertility ritual for girls known as the Bel baha. In a very interesting ceremony, the Newars of Nepal and India marry off their daughters at puberty to a bael fruit. So long as the fruit is safely kept and does not crack open or decomposes, the girl can never become widowed, even if her human husband dies. It seems that for the Newars this age-old custom helped prevent atrocity to womenfolk who were widowed in the context of social disdain for widows in most other Anglicized communities, particularly those from the Anglicized modern Hindu religious system.

Wikipedia
Details of religious use

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Is this plant cultivated commercially in India?
Uses for which the plant is commercially cultivated
Plant parts of commercial value
Products where this plant is used User-reported
Description of use
States where this plant is cultivated commercially
Best period for planting this plant
Best period for harvesting this plant
Method of propagation
Water requirement of this plant
Pests and Diseases affecting this plant during cultivation
Other considerations while cultivating this plant


Pubmed Word cloud

This word cloud is obtained using the tool LigerCat by searching the Pubmed database. LigerCat builds the cloud from the most relevant Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Each term's relative size indicates how many times it appears in the PubMed search results. Click on a term to access the full LigerCat cloud, with live PubMed search capabilities. LigerCat has been developed for the Biology of Aging Project.

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  • If there is an error message below, it means that there is no retrievable information available on NCBI
  • If the number of nucleotide sequences is less than 100, very little genomic work has been done on this species. A respectable number of nucleotide sequences is above 10000.
  • Most of the nucleotide sequences may come from three sources:
  1. Studies on single genes, where people try to sequence genes such as some specific dehydrogenases important,say, for tannin production
  2. Sequences of Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer, whose sequence is used for generating molecular phylogenetic trees to establish species relationships
  3. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) which can tell about which genes are present and expressed in the species at a particular time in the given tissue

{{#queryDB:taxonomy |Aegle marmelos }}

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Details of modern scientific knowledge available for this species
Are herbarium specimen available for this species?
Institutes having herbarium samples

References

Encyclopedia of Life (Web): Encyclopedia of Life entry, Accessdate=2010-12-05


Flowers of India (Web): Flowers of India, Accessdate=2010-12-05


Wikipedia (Web): Wikipedia entry, Accessdate=2010-12-05