Ficus benghalensis L.

Family: Moraceae

Common name [English]: Indian Banyan Tree

Vernacular name [Malayalam]: പേരാൽ

Nativity: Tropical Asia, from India through Myanmar, Thailand, southern China, and Malaysia.

Habitat: Monsoon and rain forests

Description: Large spreading evergreen tree, epiphytic in early life with numerous aerial roots from the branches which thicken and ultimately become stilts. Bark grayish brown, smooth, younger parts softly pubescent. Leaves elliptic-ovate, 12-18 by 5-8 cm long, margin entire, obtuse at apex, rounded at base, coriaceous, glossy above, glabrescent of pubescent beneath, 5-7 veins, lateral veins 5-7 on either half of midvein, looped within the margin, prominent beneath. Petiole 2-3 cm, stipules 1.5-2.5 cm, deltoid, acute, coriaceous. Figs in axillary pairs, sessile, globose, silky pubescent, basal bracts suborbicular. Male and female flowers in the same receptacle. Male flowers numerous near the mouth of the receptacle, perianth segments 4, stamens 1. Gall flowers similar, with a short style, Female flowers with smaller perianth and elongated style. Syconus fruit scarlet red when ripe.

Flowering and fruiting: March- April

Uses: useful in treatment of biliousness,ulcers, erysipelas,vomiting,vaginal complaints,fever,inflamation, leprosy etc.

Cultivation:

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org