Indian fig is a common name for several plants and may refer to: Indian fig, a species of banyan tree also known as East Indian fig. Opuntia ficus-indica, a species of cactus also known as Indian fig opuntia. Opuntia humifusa, a species of cactus also known as eastern prickly pear.
What is the name of an Indian fig tree?
Ficus benghalensis
Indian Banyan (Ficus benghalensis)
The traditional banyan tree commonly seen in landscapes is the Indian banyan, though the same name is also applied to other species of fig trees.
Is Indian fig tree and banyan tree same?
Ficus benghalensis, commonly known as the banyan, banyan fig and Indian banyan, is a tree native to the Indian Subcontinent. Specimens in India are among the largest trees in the world by canopy coverage.
Is Indian fig edible?
characteristics. … pear, including the commonly cultivated Indian fig (O. ficus-indica) of Mexico, are grown for their edible fruits and paddles and are invasive species in South Africa, Australia, and elsewhere outside their native range.
Are there fig trees in India?
In India, fig is considered to be a minor fruit crop and the commercial cultivation of common (edible) fig is mostly confined to Western Parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow & Saharanpur) Karnataka (Bellary, Chitradurga & Srirangapatna) and Tamilnadu (Coimbatore).
Is Indian fig the same as prickly pear?
Opuntia ficus-indica, the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world.
What does Indian fig taste like?
Whether you gingerly source your Indian figs straight from a cactus or hunt them down from a specialty grocer, you’ll be rewarded with the fruit’s deliciously sweet and refreshing flavour that sits somewhere between the taste of raspberries and watermelon.
Can you eat banyan figs?
The reddish fruit of the Banyan tree is not toxic per se but they are barely edible, the worst of famine food. While its leaves are said to be edible, they are more often used as plates and for wrapping food. Fig leaves are also used to impart flavor to fire cooked foods.
What is the national tree of the India?
Indian fig tree, Ficus bengalensis, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India.
Can you eat Banyan Tree figs?
The reddish fruit of the Banyan tree is barely edible. People resort to eating it only when famine strikes. While the leaves are somewhat suited for consumption, they’re often used as plates and for food wrapping. The leaves are also used to flavor fire-cooked foods.
What is Indian fig good for?
Studies have shown that figs lower triglyceride levels. Also, their potassium content helps regulate blood pressure and hypertension. Dried figs contain high levels of phenol antioxidants, which help fight against the damage caused by free radicals. Also, the calcium in figs strengthens bones.
What does an Indian fig look like?
Indian fig can grow up to 7 m tall. The pads are are bluish-green with no or very few short spines. The yellow flowers are present in late spring-summer. The fruit is egg-shaped to oval with a depressed top.
Where does Indian fig grow?
ficus-indica is for the large, sweet fruits, called tunas. Areas with significant tuna-growing cultivation include Mexico, the Mediterranean Basin, Middle East and northern Africa. The cactus grows wild and cultivated to heights of 12–16 feet (3.7–4.9 m). In Namibia, O.
How many types of figs are there in India?
16 Popular Fig Tree Varieties in India.
Why fig tree is national tree of India?
The banyan tree is considered the national tree of India because it has religious, mythical, and cultural significance in the country. It is considered pious in Hinduism and is even worshipped.
Where is sacred fig found in India?
Bodh Gaya
The site is in present-day Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India.
Can you eat Indian fig cactus?
Indian-Figs are the main source of edible cactus slivers, or nopales, though the pads of most species of prickly-pear cacti also are edible. Indian-Figs are mainly chosen for food because of their relative spinelessness.
What is the tastiest type of fig?
With it’s very thin skin and luscious honey flavor, Yellow Long Neck is considered to be one of the finest figs for fresh eating by fig connoisseurs. Other Unique Facts: Yellow Long Neck figs can grow nearly as large as a tennis ball in size!
How do you propagate Indian figs?
If you have one that produces good fruit, or has other characteristics you like, you can propagate it very easily — just stick a pad from an existing cactus in the ground or in cactus potting soil and give it a bit of water initially and it will grow.
What is the sweetest type of fig?
Bursa. If you prefer sweet, choose Bursa figs. It is one of the sweetest fig varieties available. The skin is dark purple and powderless with red to purple flesh on the inside.
Can you eat Indian laurel figs?
Although the Indian laurel fruit isn’t edible to humans, birds love to eat it. The seeds readily reseed into areas creating problems with unwanted growth. The tree has naturalized into areas where it’s taking over native populations of plants.