Ficus benghalensis (Banyan, Bo Tree, Grove Tree)


Botanical Information

FamilyMoraceae
GenusFicus
Speciesbenghalensis
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginSouth Asia.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
There are many uses of this tree in medicine like leaves are used for curing ulcers, aerial roots for gonorrhea, seeds and fruits for cooling and tonic, bark for diarrhea, diabetes.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone10
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cool season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H2
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-1 - 4
Temperature (°F)30 - 40
Height30 m
Spread200 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodJanuary, November, December

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionAn extremely large tree with leaves that emerge bronze and mature to green. A famous specimen near Poona, India is said to have a canopy that measured 700 m in diameter.
ID CharacteristicThis tree reaches a height up to 30 meters and spreads laterally indefinitely. It produces aerial roots which later turns into woody trunks, only when it reaches to ground. Leaves are ovate and lateral veins are prominent. This tree is tall and wide spreading crown shaped.
ShapeSpreading crown.
LandscapeGrown as an ornamental tree in very large gardens or parks.
PropagationPropagate by seed.
CultivationGrow in full sun, being careful not to over water as this causes yellowing and leaf-drop.
PestsFicus benghalensis is prone to sap sucking pests. Pests like mealy bugs, scale, aphids. mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, root knot nematodes, eelworm, black fly, and thrips occur under most environmental conditions, anthracnose fungus and bacterial leaf spots, crown gall, twig dieback, and Southern blight.
HabitatFound in tropical forests up to1200 m altitude.
Bark/Stem DescriptionCanopy of heavy branches is supported by a large number of secondary trunks.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionThe entire leaf bud is covered by a convolvulate stipule. The length of the bud ranges from 1.3 to 4.5 cm and width from 0.5 to 1.3 cm.
Leaf DescriptionLeaves are leathery, emerging bronze and maturing to green, to 25x17 cm.
Flower DescriptionFlowers are unisexual.
Fruit DescriptionFigs appear in pairs on the twigs, to 1.8 cm in diameter, and emerge orange-red and ripening to scarlet with a smattering of indistinct white specks.
Colour DescriptionNew leaves are in brown color but the color of older leaves are green it changes according to the size of leaves. color of the fruit is green (on April) when fruiting gets start and fruit becomes red in color when it is totally ripened.
Texture DescriptionMedium coarse textured and it has no seasonal color.

Photographs