26/02/2023
Bengal ficus (Ficus benghalensis), commonly known as banyan (banyan) or Indian banyan (Indian banyan) is an unusual tree of the Mulberry family that grows in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Growing Ficus bengal is able to turn into an incredibly large tree, occupying several hectares.
These trees brought great popularity to the Temple of Ta-Prom in Cambodia. In this place, giant ficuses have grown together with their roots so much with the ancient walls of the temple that they have become one with them. And now this world-famous monument of Cambodia can be seen exactly in the form in which the researchers found it. Thanks to these unique views, the blockbuster "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" was filmed here.
This plant is characterized by a special life form - banyan. The formation of a banyan begins with the formation of aerial roots on large horizontal branches of an adult tree, usually not bearing root hairs. At certain moments in the life of a tree, a lot of them appear, and they hang like garlands from horizontal branches. Aerial roots grow very slowly, and after a while most of them dry up before reaching the soil. Single aerial roots grow to the ground and take root, after which their aerial part intensively thickens, acquiring the shape and conductive function of trunks.
Banyan trees are easily propagated by seeds, however they are often propagated by means of aerial roots which become anchored in the ground and begin to grow and thicken to such an extent that they "become independent" of the original trunk - thus the trees can "emigrate" sometimes over long distances. .
The tree is considered sacred in India and temples are often built nearby. Due to its large canopy, the tree provides useful shade in hot climates.
