View source for Ficus benghalensis

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Moraceae
|genus=Ficus
|species=benghalensis
|common_name=Banyan, Bengal fig, Indian fig, East Indian fig, Indian Banyan
|habit=tree
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|Min ht box=30
|Min ht metric=ft
|Max ht box=40
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|Min wd box=75
|Min wd metric=ft
|Max wd box=400
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|features=evergreen
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=11
|max_zone=12
|image=Gomero de la India, Parque Mitre, Corrientes.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Ficus benghalensis''''', also known as '''Bengal fig''', '''Indian fig''', '''East Indian fig''', '''Indian Banyan''' or simply '''Banyan''', is a [[species]] of [[banyan]] endemic to [[Bangladesh]], [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. It can grow into a giant tree covering several [[hectare]]s. ''Ficus benghalensis'' produces propagating roots which grow downwards as slender [[vine]]. Once these roots reach the ground, they take root and grow into woody trunks that can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. 

The figs are eaten by birds and mammals. Fig seeds are dispersed by birds.<ref>Midya, S.; R. L. Brahmachary (1991) The Effect of Birds Upon Germination of Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) Seeds. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 7(4):537-538.</ref>

{{Inc|
Ficus benghalensis, Linn. Banyan Tree. Also written bengalensis. Young parts softly pubescent: nerves prominent; petiole 6-18 lines long; stipules 9-12 lines long: fr. in pairs, sessile, globose, puberulous, red, about the size of a small cherry. Trop. Afr., India.— A tree, 70-100 ft. high, rooting from the branches, thus forming accessory trunks and extending the growth of the tree indefinitely.—There are vigorous specimens growing outdoors at Miami, Fla.
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==Cultivation==
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===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
Image:Banyantree.jpg| Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) in front of the Edison museum in Fort Myers, Florida
Image:Banyan botanical c1800-1830.jpg|Illustration Of Ficus benghalensis
Image:Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) leaf & ripe figs in Secunderabad, AP W IMG 6633.jpg|leaf & ripe figs in  [[Hyderabad, India]].
Image:Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) trunk in Secunderabad, AP W IMG 6634.jpg|trunk in  [[Hyderabad, India]].
Image:FicusBengShoot.jpg:''F. benghalensis'' shoot in [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
Image:Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) in Secunderabad, AP W IMG 6635.jpg| in  [[Hyderabad, India]].
Image:Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea)- Female looking for ripe Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) figs in Secunderabad W IMG 6636.jpg| Asian Koel ''[[Eudynamys scolopacea]]'' Female looking for ripe figs in  [[Hyderabad, India]].
Image:Baniano 1.jpg|Propagating roots from a Ficus benghaliensis, used to travel to a place with more sun
</gallery>

==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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