Indian bael (Aegle marmelos)

Indian bael (Aegle marmelos) is a plant species in the Rutaceae family. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching heights of up to 20 meters (typically 10 meters) with a trunk diameter of 25–50 cm. Older branches feature spines—either solitary or in pairs. It grows wild in dry forests at elevations of up to 1,200 meters, in temperatures ranging from -6°C to 48°C.

The leaves are arranged alternately and are trifoliolate. The main petiole is 2–4 cm long; the petiolules of the lateral leaflets are 3 mm long, while the petiolule of the terminal leaflet is 15 mm long. The lateral leaflets are ovate to elliptical, measuring 7 cm in length and 4.2 cm in width. The terminal leaflet is obovate, 7.5 cm long and 4.8 cm wide. The entire leaf surface is covered with small, dot-like glands.

The inflorescence is an axillary raceme, 4–5 cm long, arranged in clusters. The sepals are broadly triangular and 1.5 mm long. The petals are oblong-obovate, 14 mm long and 8 mm wide, ranging in color from greenish to white. There are 35–45 white stamens with filaments 4–7 mm long. The ovary is 8 mm long and 4 mm wide, with a very short style.

The fruit is a subglobose berry, 5–12.5 cm in diameter, often possessing a hard, woody rind. It contains 8–20 segments and 6–10 seeds. The pulp is translucent, sticky, and edible. The seeds are embedded in the pulp, covered in fine, wool-like hairs, and encased in an adhesive mucilaginous membrane that hardens upon drying; the testa (seed coat) is white.

The fruit is typically split in half or broken open to access the pulp. The fruit pulp is soft, yellow or orange in color, highly fragrant, and possesses a delightful flavor. It can be sweetened with sugar or mixed with milk, and is also processed into nectar and jam. The leaves and young shoots are consumed as vegetables or used as culinary seasonings. An infusion made from the flowers is served as a beverage, while the leaves and twigs serve as livestock fodder.

The fruit pulp enhances tolerance to sunlight, helps maintain a natural skin tone, and is used to treat leukoderma; it also acts as a laxative and diuretic, and helps alleviate diarrhea and dysentery. The pulp can even be used for washing clothes. The fruit rind is crafted into containers for pills or tobacco, while the flowers are processed into perfume. Oil extracted from the leaves and rind is used to scent hair oil. Leaf extract possesses insecticidal properties. A decoction of the fruit, mixed with fennel and ginger, is used to treat hemorrhoids. The rind is also utilized in the leather-tanning process and as a yellow dye for fabrics.

The wood, which emits a strong aroma and is grayish-white in color, is used for woodcarving, lathe work, knife handles, pestles, and combs. The tree bark is used as a fish poison. A sticky sap surrounding the seeds serves as a household adhesive, a material for crafting jewelry, and a substitute for soap. When mixed with lime plaster, this sap creates a waterproof seal; it is also added to cement when constructing walls. Furthermore, the sap is incorporated into watercolors and used as a protective coating for paintings.

The fruit pulp accounts for 56–77% of the entire fruit. Per 100 grams, the pulp contains 61.5 g of water, 1.8 g of protein, 0.39 g of fat, 31.8 g of carbohydrates, 1.7 g of ash, 55 mg of carotene, 0.13 mg of thiamine, 1.19 mg of riboflavin, 1.1 mg of niacin, and 8 mg of vitamin C. The fruit contains tannins, marmelosin (C13H12O3), essential oils, limonene, alkaloids, coumarins, and steroids.

TAXON

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Tracheophyta
Subphylum Angiospermae
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Sapindales
Family Rutaceae
Subfamily Aurantioideae
Genus Aegle (L.) Corrêa in Trans. Linn. Soc. London 5: 223 (1800)
Species: Aegle marmelos Corrêa in Trans. Linn. Soc. London 5: 222 (1800)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Crateva marmelos L. in Sp. Pl.: 444 (1753)
Belou marmelos (L.) Lyons in Pl. Nam., ed. 2: 69 (1907)
Bilacus marmelos (L.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 99 (1891)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Crateva religiosa Ainslie in Mat. Med. Hindoostan: 124 (1813)
Aegle marmelos var. mahurensis Zate in Indian J. Forest. 5: 36 (1982)
Aegle marmelos var. tamilnadensis (S.A.Kader) D.D.Pramanick & Mastakar in S.S.Dash & A.A.Mao (eds.), Fl. Pl. India Annot. Checkl. Dicot. 1: 225 (2020)
Aegle tamilnadensis S.A.Kader in J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 39: 544 (2015 publ. 2016)
Feronia pellucida B.Heyne ex Roth in Nov. Pl. Sp.: 384 (1821)

PUBLICATIONS

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Balkrishna, A. (2018). Flora of Morni Hills (Research & Possibilities): 1-581. Divya Yoga Mandir Trust.

Dassanayake (ed.) (1985). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon 5: 1-476. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. LTD., New Delhi, Calcutta.

Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1979). A geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae. Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 15: 41-295.

Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.

Govaerts, R. (1995). World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1, 2): 1-483, 529. MIM, Deurne.

Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (2001). Flora of Bhutan 2: 1-1675. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Hara, H., Stearn, W.T. & Williams, H.J. (1979). An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal 2: 1-220. Trustees of British Museum, London.

Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.

Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.

Leti, M., Hul, S., Fouché, J.-G., Cheng, S.K. & David, B. (2013). Flore photographique du Cambodge: 1-589. Éditions Privat, Toulouse.

Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà Nội : Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp.

Maliya, S.D. & Datt, B. (2010). A contribution to the flora of Katarniyaghat wildlife sanctuary, Baharaich district, Uttar Pradesh. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 34: 42-68.

Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.

Meena, S.L. (2012). A checklist of the vascular plants of Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India. Nelumbo 54: 39-91.

Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (eds.) (1970-1995). Flora of West Pakistan 1-131.

Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.

Sarmah, K.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2009). A checklist of angiospermic plants of Manas national park in Assam, India. Pleione 3: 190-200.

Sikarwar, R.L.S. (2014). Angiosperm diversity assessment of Chitrakootthe legendary place of Vindhyan range, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 38: 563-619.

Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2008). Flora of China 11: 1-622. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

VERNACULAR NAME

Assamese: Bel
Bengali: বেল Bel
Chinese (simplified): 木橘
Chinese (traditional): 木橘 - 肖木蘋果
Czech: Oslizák líbezný
English: Indian bael, Bengal quince, Wood apple, Stone apple, Bael, Bilva, Golden apple
Finnish: Belahedelmä
French: Cognassier du Bengale
German: Belbaum, Bengalische Quitte, Madjobaum
Gujarati: Bili, Bilipatr
Hindi: बेल Bel
Hong Kong: 木橘 - 肖木蘋果
Indonesian: Maja
Java: Mojo
Kannada: Belavu, Bellavatta, Bilpatre, Bilvapatre
Konkani: Bello
Malayalam: Vilvam
Manipuri: Heirikhagok
Marathi: Bel, Maredu
Mizo: Bel-thei
Polish: Kleiszcze smakowite
Russian: Эгле мармеладное
Sanskrit: Adhararuha, Sivadrumah, Tripatra
Sinhala: බෙලි
Slovak: Egla užitočná
Spanish: Membrillo de Bengala
Tamil: வில்வம் Vilvam
Telugu: Sandiliyamu
Thai: มะตูม
Turkish: Bael, Bel, Bul Ağacı, Hind Ayva Ağacı, Hint Ayva Ağacı, Kassa, Kıssa
Urdu: بیل Bel

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Dlium TheDlium
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