Aegle marmelos aka Indian Bael

Aegle marmelos is known as bael, golden apple, or Bengal quince. It belongs to the citrus family, Rutaceae. Its native range lies in the Indian subcontinent. It grows in dry forests on hills and plains. Growers raise it for fruit in India and Pakistan. Hindus regard the tree as sacred and offer its leaves to Shiva. It also grows in temple grounds in India and Thailand.

Bael grows slowly and sheds its leaves. Garden size is about 33 feet (10 metres) tall. Its spread reaches about 16 feet (5 metres). Some accounts give heights of 49 feet (15 metres). Others report up to 59 feet (18 metres) under good conditions. The trunk often has grooves near its base. Older branches bear spines, and basal suckers can be very thorny. These traits help it form a barrier hedge.

The flowers have a scent, and bees pollinate them. The round fruit has a hard, woody shell. It measures about 0.16–0.41 feet (0.05–0.125 metres) across. Ripe fruit has orange skin and sweet, scented yellow pulp. People eat the pulp fresh or dry it for later use. They also make drinks, jams, and jellies from it. Young leaves and shoots serve as greens or cooked vegetables. Seed-grown trees vary in fruit shape, shell, pulp, and seed count.

Bael suits tropical and subtropical sites with full sun. It prefers moist, rich soil that drains well. Yet it tolerates drought, poor ground, and a broad pH range. It can grow in sandy soil, loam, or clay. Reports also record growth in stony and swampy ground. In Thailand, a marked dry season helps flowering and fruiting. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 and calls the tree frost tender. It also notes poor wind tolerance. Seeds, root suckers, and budding provide ways to raise new plants.

The tree supplies food, traditional remedies, and useful raw materials. Its fruit rind provides tannin and a yellow fabric dye. People use stems as chewing sticks and branches as barriers. Traditional medicine uses fruit, leaves, twigs, and roots. These uses do not establish that all parts are safe. Sources report that leaves may cause miscarriage and impair fertility in women. They also record the use of bark to poison fish. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.