Banyan Tree

Ficus bengalensis

Bengali: Bot; Hindi: Bargad

A very familiar very large evergreen tree with prominent arial roots and spreading almost horizontal branches.

Bark: Grey or silvery, relatively smooth

Leaf:  Egg-shaped, broad, leathery with rather short, stout stalks on the wider side. 4-8’’ long

Fruit (figs): 2-4’’ in diameter, In pairs, without stalks, velvety, deep red when ripe.

Season: New leaves usually appear in February - March, but sometimes in September and October. The ripe figs appear from April to June, and on some trees up to December

Range/habitat: According to some authority, its true wild habitat is sub-Himalayan India and some peninsular forests. But at least currently found in most deciduous and semi evergreen forests throughout India (but not wild outside Indian subcontinent)

Trivia and notes: In terms of area coverage, it is the biggest tree in the world due to its elaborate arial/prop root system. The one in Kolkata botanical garden started its life on top of a wild date palm in 1782. Now, after close to 250 years, it has spread across some 1.4 hectors!

Where to Find: There are several of them in Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata. One prominent tree on the south bank of the lake. GPS: 22.51041, 88.36098