| Botanical Name-Aegel marmelos | | | | Butterfly Papilio demoleus and the Common |
| Family-RUTACEAE | | | | Mormon Papilio polytes. |
| Scientific classification | | | | Bilva is considered to be the best Saiigrahika and |
| Kingdom: Plantae | | | | Dipaniya drug being vata kapha hara (C.S.Su.25). |
| Division: Magnoliophyta | | | | Bilva Patra is however vãtahara only |
| Class: Magnoliopsida | | | | (C.S.S.27). Suruta quoted Bilva as Rasayana |
| Subclass: Rosidae | | | | (S.S.Ci.27). Bilva is also called Siva Druma (Lord |
| Order: Sapindales | | | | Siva's favourite tree) is held sacred by Hindus, the |
| Family: Rutaceae | | | | leaves being offered in prayers to iva & |
| Genus: Aegle | | | | Parvati. As Chopra aptly puts it, "No drug has |
| Species: A. marmelos | | | | been longer better known, more appreciated by |
| Introduction | | | | the inhabitants of India than bael fruits". Different |
| Bilva is a fruit-bearing tree indigenous to dry | | | | parts of the tree are used in ancient medicine viz, |
| forests on hills and plains of central and southern | | | | root (vatakaraj; stem (Hridroga hara or Jvara |
| India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, | | | | hara), leaves (Madhumeha hara), Apakva phala |
| Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. It is cultivated | | | | (sangrahi) and pakva phala (laxative). |
| throughout India, as well as in Sri Lanka, northern | | | | Botanical Description - It is a medium to fairly |
| Malaya, Java and in the Philippines. It is also | | | | large sized deciduous and glabrous tree up to |
| popularly known as Bilva, Bilwa, Bel, or Beli fruit, | | | | 6-7.5 m high and 90-120 cm in girth. Branches |
| Bengal quince, stone apple, and wood apple. The | | | | armed with straight sharp, axillary 2.5 cm long |
| tree, which is the only species in the genus Aegle, | | | | spines. Bark soft, corky, light grey. |
| grows up to 18 meters tall. | | | | Leaves alternate, trifoliate, occasionally digitately |
| Bilva is extensively described and used in the | | | | five foliate. Leaflets ovate or ovate Ianceolate, |
| Vedic literature. Bilva Mani dharana is considered as | | | | crenate, acuminate, lateral sessile, terminal long |
| Duhsvapan naana, Raksoghna, Rasayana, | | | | petioled. |
| Prajasthapana, Visghna etc. It is also used for | | | | Flowers large, greenish white, sweet scented in |
| rituals, marriages etc. Its cosmetic properties | | | | short axillary panicles. |
| were also documented by the ancient texts. | | | | Fruits glabose, grey or yellow, rind woody. |
| Bilva is a very good source of protein which is | | | | Seeds-numerous, oblong, compressed, em-bedded |
| 5.12 per cent of the edible portion. Fresh half-ripe | | | | in sacs covered with thick orange coloured sweet |
| Bilva fruit is mildly astringent and is used for | | | | pulp. Fruit 2 1/2 to 3 1/4 inches in diameter, |
| dysentery and diarrhea. The pulp may be eaten | | | | globular or ovoid in shape, colour greyish brown, |
| or the decoction administered. Bilva is said to cure | | | | outside surface hard and nearly smooth. Rind |
| without creating any tendency to constipation. | | | | about 1/8 inch thick and adherent to a light red |
| Bilva leaves, fruits and root can be used as tonic | | | | pulp, in which are ten to fifteen cells, each |
| and coolant with antibiotic properties | | | | containing several woolly seeds. It has a faint |
| This tree is a larval foodplant for the following | | | | aromatic odour and mucilagenous taste. |
| two Indian Swallowtail butterflies, the Lime | | | | |