banyan

Banyan refers to a large fig tree of the species Ficus benghalensis, and more broadly to related fig species in the banyan group. It belongs to the Moraceae family and is native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia; it has been introduced in tropical regions around the world.

One of the banyan's defining features is its extensive aerial roots, or prop roots, that grow from branches toward the ground. When these roots reach soil, they thicken into additional trunks, allowing the tree to spread over a wide area and create a sheltering canopy. The tree is evergreen and long-lived, with a trunk system that can become a dense network.

Ficus benghalensis bears tiny fruits that attract birds and mammals; the plant is pollinated by specific fig wasps. The banyan often begins life as a seed deposited by a bird on a branch, growing as an epiphyte before sending roots downward.

Throughout South Asia, banyan trees are culturally significant, often planted in villages and near temples as symbols of shelter and longevity. The Great Banyan in Kolkata's Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden is a famous example of a banyan tree, historically noted as one of the largest trees by canopy.

The term banyan also refers to related Ficus species commonly called banyan figs; the name derives in English from the Gujarati vaṇiyā, meaning merchant, reflecting the traditional use of shady banyan trees as meeting places for traders.