Ara mara

Ara mara (Ficus exasperate Vahl) one of the native trees in Kodagu also known as Sandpaper tree is a small to medium-sized tree in the banyan group of figs,which  grows up to 18 M tall.

Kodava

Ara mara

English

Sand paper fig, Brahma’s Banyan

Kannada

Garagathimara

Botanical Name

Ficus exasperate Vahl.

Family

MORACEAE

Uses

It is used as a source of sandpaper and as a valuable medicinal plant. The extracts from the tree used to treat as anti-ulcer, hypotensive, lipid-lowering, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity.