Bakul Tree

Bakul . The Bullet Tree. Sweet odoured Tree

Bakul Indian Medicinal Plant 

                                                  Madhugandha Sweet odoured Tree

Vajradanti / Medlar or Bulletwood Tree

Maulsari Fruit Bunch

                                                                Fragrant Bakul Flowers

       Fruits of Bakul Tree. VAJRADANTI BAKUL Maulsary. Medicinal Tree. Mimosop elengi, Spanish cherry. Bullet wood. Leaves 

                                                           Bakul Flower Tree Image

चिरपुष्प Evergreen

Bakul Seeds, Therefore called Bullet Wood Tree

Introduction

MAULSARI. Mimusops elengi : About the Bakul Tree - It is a beautiful every green tree with a dense canopy of small shiny leaves. The tree bears creamy white fragrant flowers and ovoid berries. Year-around flowering, (चीर पुष्प ),  Flowers in flushes throughout the year. A middle sized tree branching low and forming a dense dark, glossy head. Reputedly evergreen. it goes through a some  what lean phase in Delhi in early March. A quintessential tree of Mughal garden, where it is pruned and shaped to look like a toy tree. Common in Delhi parks and gardens but not often used along avenues. 

Bakula has a fresh and sweet-smelling fragrance.  It has a distinctive appearance due to its dark bark with deep fissures. The bark is red on the inside whereas the reddish-grey bark, which is hardy, makes for the outer part. Bakula trees grow throughout the country and have smooth and shiny leaves. The flowers grow in bunches and are fragrant. They are white in colour with a yellowish tinge. The fragrance can be retained for years if the flowers are sun-dried and preserved well. The dried flowers are used to make necklaces and other ornaments by women. The fruits of the trees are oval-shaped and green in colour when raw. The fruits turn yellow on ripening. The ripened fruits are shiny and become grayish brown. Birds Love These Fruits. They would have usually 1 or 2 seeds and are caustic in nature. The flowers bloom in April whereas the fruits develop in June.

Seasons : Spring

Leaves : Leaves taper at both ends apex pointy. Margins of the leaves are wavy. Nearly evergreen most trees thin out in March. New leaf in late April, pale green, contrasting pretty with the older leaves. Leaves 5-15 cm long glossy on top , wavy edge.

Flowers : In May- June, another flush in the rains. Flower white fragrant, with numerous narrow petals. : from January to June. An olive shaped about 3 cm long green with short matted hair when young, maturing smooth, orange red. The yellow flurry pulp inside is edible. The pointy segments of the flower cup persist on the fruit. berry green at first  turning red yellow when ripe. Flower has short tube crowned by 2 circles of narrow petals about 24, the inner circle with 8-`9 petals, the outer with twice that number. Bakul flowers, being so aromatic, are also used in making soaps and oils. The Bakul flower extract is mixed with Sandalwood oil to make a rich, fragrant mixture.

Bakula Pushpam

Bark : Nut brown or greyish, deeply fissured or cracked. A traditional ittar (perfume from essential oil) is distilled from Maulsary flower.

Its wood is very costly.

Bakul Flower garland

Medicinal Use

The flowers are used to extract a volatile oil while the fruits and seeds are used for their phytoactive compounds such as quercitrol, ursolic acid, triterpene alcohol, di-hydroquercetin and more.

Bakula fruits are believed to provide relief in diarrhea and in dental problems such as caries and gum disease.  

The tender stems are used as toothbrushes and the bark powder can be used as an exfoliator for teeth.

Gargling with the solution of its bark powder and Acacia catechu is very beneficial for bleeding gums and swollen gums.

The flowers have anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

• Anti Bacterial
• Anti Anxiety
• Anti Diabetic
• Urolithiatic
• Antioxidant

Common Names

Common Name:  Mimusops elengi, Bakul, (बकुल) Maulsari, Vajradanti, Spanish cherry. Spanish cherry, medlar, and bullet wood.

 Its timber is valuable, the fruit is edible, 

Bakula Tree for Religious Purposes:

Bakula flowers are offered to Lord Ganesha during the 21-pushpa puja. The flowers are considered to be very sacred in Jainism and Buddhism.

The Bakul tree is mentioned frequently in the Mahabharata - Lord Krishna used to play his flute under a Bakul tree and attract the milkmaids of Vrindavan

Bakula Flower garland

 The ancient Indian sages regarded these trees as gifts from god. Bakul trees are frequently found growing at temple entrances. The Bakul tree, which is considered male, is planted on the right side of the temple entrance, while the chalta tree (Dillenia indica), which is considered female, is planted on the left side. The dense canopy of the Bakul tree provides a cool shade where devotees can sit, talk, relax and meditate . The Bakul flowers are used as offerings to the god.

Bakul flowers, being so aromatic, are also used in making soaps and oils. The Bakul flower extract is mixed with Sandalwood oil to make a rich, fragrant mixture

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