Trees & Plants

Banyan tree

Nika, Kirigas

Ficus benghalensis L.

Very common in most of the islands The tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists and planted around temples in India. It is a major avenue tree in Maldives. Various insects living on the tree produce a resinous secretion called lac which is the main ingredient of shellac used to pro

Details

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uses: The tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists and planted around temples in India. It is a major avenue tree in Maldives. Various insects living on the tree produce a resinous secretion called lac which is the main ingredient of shellac used to produce French polish. Wood from aerial roots is used as poles and cart yokes. In traditional medicine, the latex is applied externally for treating pains and bruises, and is a remedy for toothache.
family: Moraceae
synonym: Ficus banyana Oken
description: Spreading trees, to 30 m high; aerial roots numerous; bark greyish-white, smooth; exudation milky. Leaves simple, × alternate, 10-20 5-12.5 cm, ovate, base rounded or subcordate, apex obtuse, margin entire, coriaceous; 3-7-ribbed from base, lateral nerves 4-6 pairs, pinnate, prominent; stipules lateral, 2-2.5 cm long, sheathing. Flowers unisexual; inflorescence a syconia, sessile, in axillary pairs, globose; basal bracts 3, broad, round, glabrous, coriaceous, persistent. Fruit 1.5-2 cm across, orange to × red when ripe, achenes 2 1.5 mm, globose- ellipsoid, dark brown.
native range: Indian subcontinent
distribution: South Asia; widely grown as an avenue tree
english names: Banyan tree
flowering fruiting: May – August
occurrence maldives: Very common in most of the islands