వృక్ష శాస్త్రం

Indian Flora

— 47,000+ plant species (~6% world); 13% world's plants concentrated India. National Tree: Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) — designated 1950s; largest tree spread globally; Great Banyan Howrah West Bengal 250 years, 4.67 acres canopy with 3500+ aerial roots; Krishna sat under banyan (Bhagavad Gita reference). National Flower: Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) — symbol of purity (rises from mud unstained); 108 + 1000-petal lotus symbolic; Lakshmi-Saraswati-Brahma all on lotus. National Fruit: Mango (Mangifera indica) — King of fruits; 1500+ varieties India; Banaganapalle GI 2017 AP famous; Alphonso Maharashtra; Dussehri UP; Telangana Allampur Mahanandi mangoes. Sacred trees: (1) Peepal (Ficus religiosa) — Buddha enlightened under it, releases oxygen 24/7 unlike most trees; (2) Banyan (Ficus benghalensis); (3) Neem (Azadirachta indica) — "Village Pharmacy"; antimicrobial; Rama lived among neem; (4) Mango; (5) Tulsi — sacred basil household; (6) Bilva (Aegle marmelos) — Shiva's favorite; (7) Asoka — Sita lived under in Lanka; (8) Bodhi tree = Buddha's peepal Bodh Gaya; (9) Coconut — Kalpavriksha. Medicinal plants (Ayurveda 8000+ species). Endangered: Sandalwood (Santalum album) — Karnataka famous, illegal felling crisis; Red Sanders Andhra Pradesh; Cycas Beddomei AP-TS Tirupati hills endemic. Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot UNESCO 2012 — 5000+ flowering plants endemic. National Parks — Project Trees scheme. Telugu connection: Nallamala AP-TS forests, Eastern Ghats, Tirupati hills, Papikondalu AP, Eturnagaram TS — flora rich; Andhra coastal mangroves Coringa, Krishna delta; Telangana Adilabad teak forests.