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Aegle marmelos
| Family Name: | Rutaceae |
| Common Name: | Bel, Maja, Matum, Bilak, Bengal quince, Bael fruit |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Moderate sized tree up to 15 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Trunk is thick, and covered with soft, flaking bark. Branches are sometimes spiny and young suckers have many stiff, straight spines. |
| Foliage | Leaves grow alternately, composed of 3, sometimes 5 oval-shaped leaflets, 4-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. The terminal leaflet has a long petiole. |
| Flowers | Flowers are greenish white in color and sweetly scented. |
| Fruit | Fruits are about 5-20 cm in diameter, ovoid or globular. The fruit has a woody peel which turns to pale yellow when ripe. Seeds are embedded in the pale orange, aromatic pulp. |
| Associated Fauna | This plant is a host plant for the Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus) and the Common Mormon (Papilio polytes). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Fruits are eaten fresh or made into jam and drinks. The young leaves can be eaten as salad. Medicinal: The sliced, sun-dried fruit are used to improve appetite, and to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The pulp is also used to treat respiration disorders. Others: Flowers are distilled to make perfumes. Fruit pulp is used as detergent. The wood is hard but not durable, used to make handles of small tools. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Coastal |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3292 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |