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CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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The banyan is unmatched for its medicinal properties and shelter. Read on...
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The banyan or the Ficus benghalensis is called Bar in Hindi, Marri in Telugu and Alamaram in Tamil and Malyalam. It's a large spreading deciduous tree sending down numerous aerial roots from its branches to the ground which, in time, support the branches.
Leaves are leathery, oval shaped 4.8" long and 2.8" broad egg shaped, rounded tip, blunt base rounded, somewhat heart shaped, three to seven nerves arising from the base. They are borne on thick, short leaf stalks. Flowers are minute within the receptacle. Fruit is a fig (sycome) in pairs, globular, stalk less and 3" in diameter, and red coloured when ripe.
The banyan is sacred to the Hindus, and plays a great part with their ceremonies. The leaves are made into plates. The wood yields an inferior rubber and is used in medicine to be applied externally for pains, bruises and for rheumatism. An infusion of the barks is regarded a powerful tonic and as a poultice. The fruit is eaten. The wood is of little value but is durable under water. Ficus is the for the fig tree. Benghalenses refers to Bengal.
Widely distributed in India and is widely cultivated, the tree may be propagated by seeds and cuttings. The seeds should be sown as soon as they ripen, preferably in pots in fine leaf mould mixture with powdered charcoal. Large cuttings should be put down at the commencement of monsoon.
The largest Banyan tree is in Kolkata; it has about 1,000 trunks and the canopy covers about four acres.
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