BANYAN TREE
Family - Urticaceae Scientific name – Ficus bengalensi
Common names –
1) Wad in Marathi.
2) Ala in Tamil.
3) Bor gad or Gar gad in Hindi.
Growing areas –
1) This is the commonest tree in
India.
2) It is originated in India.
General Information –
1) This tree needs a lot of
space.
2) The roots of this tree hang
form the branches to give support to spread it in a large area.
3) If we cut all the hanging
roots the tree will fall out.
4) This tree is tall, fast growing
and evergreen tree.
5) It has dark grey bark that
peels in patches.
6) It has shallow roots.
7) The name Banyan may have given
to the tree because for centuries the banyas or merchants used it for trading under it.
8) It can grow to enormous width.
9) It can live for hundred years.
Leaves, Flowers and fruit of the Banyan tree
Leaves of The Banyan Tree –
1) The appearing time of the leaves is in
February to March and sometimes again in September to October.
2) When the leaves breaks the white sticky
liquid oozes out.
Flowers of The Banyan Tree –
1) The tree contain number of flowers both
male and female.
2) Due to this the banyan and all the members
of the fig family can produce seeds and increase in numbers.
3) A kind of wasp called fig wasp bores a hole
in fig.
4) These fig wasp helps for entomophily.
Fruit of The Banyan Tree –
1) The figs ripen between February and May and
in some areas in August – September.
2) The ripen figs are favourite food of many
squirrels, birds, flying foxes and fruit eating bats and certain kind of
insects.
3) This tree is an epiphyte tree.
Uses of The Bayan Tree –
1) Because of it’s size and splendor, and the
shade it gives, it is often used as the central meeting place in village.
2) The wood of the trunk of banyan is not of
any use but it’s aerial roots are strong and are used to make the tents pole.
3) Rope is made from the bark and young aerial
roots.
4) The leaves are use to make plates.
5) Many parts of the tree use to make
medicines.
World's biggest Banyan Tree
The Great Banyan Tree
