Trees Planet: zz042 Common Name

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Ficus benghalensis - Banyan Tree

General Information

Common Name	Banyan Tree
Scientific Name	Ficus benghalensis
Sun Tolerance	Full Sun
Height	up to 200 m (up to 700 ft)
Spread	up to 30 m (up to 100 ft)
Growth Rate	Fast
Bloom Time	Spring
Color	Green
Flower Color	Yellow
Type	Tree
Native	South and South-East Asia

Classification

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Hamamelididae
Order	Urticales
Family	Moraceae – Mulberry family
Genus	Ficus L. – fig
Species	F. benghalensis

Ficus benghalensis - Banyan Tree

Ficus benghalensis common name is Banyan Tree. It is also known as 'Bengal fig', 'Indian fig'. It is native to South and East Asia, but also plant as an ornamental tree in the tropical country all over the world. It is a large and long living trees, it takes more and more space year after year. This circle of trunks deriving from one original tree can reach an enormous size – 200 m (700 ft) in diameter and 30 m (100 ft) in height. Ficus benghalensis produces propagating roots which grow downwards as aerial roots. Once these roots reach the ground, they grow into woody trunks that can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. The leaves are leathery, entire, ovate or elliptic, 20-40 cm long with prominent lateral veins. The figs are 1 to 2 cm in diameter, without stalks, in pairs in leaf axils, and when ripe are bright red. The fruit of the Indian banyan tree is yet another example of the vital interdependency that exist between species, in our fragile environment. The fig "fruit" is actually a globular receptacle with hundreds of small fleshy flowers inside. The figs are pollinated by a tiny specialized wasp that enters the receptacle through a small opening. The pollinator wasp for Ficus benghalensis is Eupristina masoni. Each female flower inside the receptacle then produces a tiny fruit containing seeds.

The figs are eaten by birds and mammals. Fig seeds are dispersed by birds such as the Indian Mynas and studies have shown that seeds that pass through the digestive system of the bird are more likely to germinate as well as sprout earlier. The Banyan Tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists in India and is frequently planted around temples. Being a majestic ornamental tree it is also planted in parks and along streets in the tropics.