BAEL

FRUIT (Aegle marmelos)  . Aegle is a genus of the botanical natural order Rutaceae, containing two species in tropical Asia and one in west tropical Africa . The plants are trees bearing strong spines, with alternate, compound leaves each with three leaflets and panicles of sweet-scented white flowers . Aegle marmelos, the bael- or bel-fruit tree (also known as Bengal quince), is found wild or cultivated throughout India . The tree is valued for its fruit, which is oblong to pyriform in shape, 2–5 in. in diameter, and has a grey or yellow rind and a sweet, thick orange-coloured pulp . The unripe fruit is cut up in slices, sun-dried and used as an astringent; the ripe fruit is described as sweet, aromatic and cooling . The wood is yellowish-white, and hard but not durable . The name Aegle is from one of the Hesperides, in reference to the golden fruit; marmelos is Portuguese for quince .