Can we live without trees?
The entire earth depends on trees for their survival. Trees inhale carbon dioxide that humans exhale and exhale oxygen that is life necessary for human beings to breathe and live. Thus, trees play a pivotal role. Among all trees, the one tree that is of great importance and offers benefits, guidance and support is the Banyan tree and is rightly known as the national tree of India. With the help of the thick pores in their large number of leaves, the Banyan tree generates huge amount of oxygen. The national tree of India also emit oxygen in the dark by a kind of photosynthesis known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).
National tree of India: Banyan
A country’s national tree is an important part of its identity. Ficus Bengalensis also known as the Indian fig tree, or Banyan, is the national tree of India. Banyan tree’s branches look like new trees and spread across a large area. Banyan trees are an integral part of Indian villages. Considered as auspicious, national tree of India Banyan has an important place when it comes to Indian legends and epics.
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Due to its nature of branching roots and spread, the national tree of India, or Kalpavriksha is also considered to be a long-living tree. Like other fig species, Banyans produce their fruit in a structure known as a “syconium.”
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What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a combination of two words namely ayur that stands for life and veda that stands for knowlegde. A natural medicine system, Ayurveda is over 3,000 years old and practiced since ancient Indian times. Balancing the mind, body and the soul is the main aim of Ayurveda and it works on promoting a holistic healthy lifestyle. The national tree of India has medical properties that make it important.
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India’s largest Banyan tree: Where does the Banyan tree live?
India’s largest Banyan tree is in Kolkata, which is more than 250 years old. This national tree of India is spread over an area of 4.67 acre.
National tree of India: How tall will a Banyan Tree grow?
The national tree of India can grow upto 100 feet in height and in width it has the ability to spread indefinitely. The more than 250-year old national tree of India in Kolkata is actually 80 feet tall in height.
How a Banyan Tree grows and spreads: Propagation
Frugivore birds are responsible for propagation of Banyan seeds. Banyan trees grow in woodlands. Further, fig wasps help in propagation of Banyan tree seeds. The seeds of the national tree-Banyan trees fall on branches of other trees and the root goes downwards. Banyan tree has the habit to strangle, where the tree grows. The national tree eventually eats up the host tree, or the tree on whose branches the seeds has fallen.
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National tree of India: Banyan tree leaves
Banyan tree leaves are big, green and leathery in nature. The young leaves of Banyan national tree are reddish in colour.
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National tree of India: Banyan tree bonsai
Banyan tree can be used as Bonsai with the oldest one in Tainan, which is around 240-year-old tree.
National tree of India: Banyan tree fruit
Belonging to the fig family, the Banyan tree fruit is in the form of syconium. This fruit is both a shelter and food for fig wasps on whom the Banyan tree depends heavily for pollination.
FAQs
How is the fruit of Banyan tree useful?
Banyan tree’s fruit is both food and shelter for fig wasps who help in pollination.
Where is the largest national tree of India -Banyan tree in India located?
Spread across 4.67 acres, India's largest Banyan tree is in Kolkata. This national tree of India is more than 250-year-old tree.