Banyan Trees - You May Know Them as "Ficus"
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Ficus Plants Seem Common as Interior Plants - But You Oughta See What They Do in the Wild!
My first encounter with a banyan tree, was in Hawaii, when my family was on its way from New Mexico to our new home on the Western Pacific island of Guam. When we walked from our hotel in Honolulu to the International Marketplace on Waikiki's Kalakaua Avenue, we saw some banyan trees along the road. But when we entered the International Marketplace itself, we saw that it was dominated by the biggest and strangest-looking tree I had ever seen. This huge banyan tree provided the "center-piece" for this tourist attraction--the tree was like a giant umbrella, providing its canopy for seemingly the whole center plaza. Eerie "prop-roots" descended from the overhanging branches... reaching to make hold on the ground. And, to make the tree even more interesting, it was the home of a "treehouse"--which at the time was a radio station!
When we finally made it to Guam, we discovered that banyan trees were a common plant on the island--particularly in the boonies surrounding our home. We also learned more about these amazing trees.
This Squidoo lens will give you more information about these fascinating plants!
When we finally made it to Guam, we discovered that banyan trees were a common plant on the island--particularly in the boonies surrounding our home. We also learned more about these amazing trees.
This Squidoo lens will give you more information about these fascinating plants!
Banyan Drop Roots Enveloping an Old Stone Wall, Oahu, Hawaii
Banyan Trees, Ficus.... Sometimes They Are Called "Strangling Figs"...
Banyan trees and others of the Ficus genus are "fig" trees. And birds like to eat the fruits (figs). When the birds land in other trees after eating, they defecate (fancy biology word for "poop") in those trees. If the fig seeds are in that "poop", and the seeds are in a convenient recess--such as in a fork in the branches or small hollow in the branch, they may germinate in that convenient pile of "fertilizer" and become an "epiphyte" (a plant that grows on other plants).With the right conditions, the small epiphytic fig tree starts to send out roots to find more stable nourishment--namely for that found in the ground. Once these thin "drop roots" reach the ground and dig in, the fig then sends out more and more of these drop roots--eventually surrounding the "host" tree with its roots. As the roots grow in diameter/thickness, some that are next to each other will fuse, as more and more fuse, they eventually "strangle" their host tree and take over completely to obliterate the host. Thus, how they got their name.
This tree gains an even more bizarre appearance when birds drop the seeds on buildings--particularly old stone structures. The seeds again sprout in their fertilizer pile and send out the usual drop roots. Eventually the building is covered with the drop roots, some of them fusing in eerie shapes--the best examples of this are in the ancient Ta Prohm area in the Angkor Wat temple complex of Cambodia where the giant banyans grow around and through its walls.
If the fig tree has started in the usual way--with the seed falling on the ground--the tree sprouts and grows in a normal tree fashion, and in the beginning will resemble a normal tree.
View of Banyan Branches and Droproots
Close Encounters of the Banyan Kind! Creepy trees!
At first, when we arrived on the Western Pacific Island of Guam, the banyan trees were only a mild curiosity to us. But as we gained more familiarity with the island's tropical plants and enjoyed "boonie stomping" with our new Guamanian friends, we learned that the banyan trees held a unique significance to Guam's Chamoru culture: the locals believed that the Taotaomona--considered spirits of the ancient Chamoru--were "guardians" who resided within the structures of banyan trees.One scene in particular still haunts me:
With some classmates from Inarajan Junior High School, we planned a boonie stomp (hike) from our home near Malojloj to the nearest beach. We had to cross perhaps a half mile (seemed like more) through a combination of volcanic and ancient raised coral reef ("karst topography") carpeted with a dense "limestone forest."
Once we got away from our backyard and deeper into the boonies, we were in a sea of green... the high and thick canopy blocked all but the most direct sunlight that flickered through the few breaks in the leaves. We descended down a high ridge of jagged coral rocks and stumbled our way through the thick barriers of large pandanus, coconuts, breadfruit, and, of course thick stands of tangentangen. We also pushed our way past sea bean lianas, wild hibiscus trees, cycads, and occasional banyans. And these were only the big plants... the jungle floor was also covered with bird's nest and other ferns, pockets of moss, small clumps of grasses, and occasional mushrooms.
After our initial steep drop of about 100 feet from the clearing where our house was, we found ourselves on a relatively flat forested area--still hazardous with the jumbles of jagged coral rocks. This gave us a brief break before the next phase of the hike. To get further toward the beach--and a lower ancient reef platform--we found a collapsed "lava tube" or maybe a coral reef "surge channel" that was about 30 feet across and maybe 400 feet long. Our guides said that we'd have to go through this deep channel in the forest to get down to the next level (this was the way to go if we wanted to avoid dangerous cliffs). We used our machetes to hack our way into the foilage that was also seemingly connected by huge spider webs. Halfway through the channel, however, the dense overhead canopy of leaves rendered the area almost to twilight levels of darkness. We realized that the canopy of leaves was mostly from a banyan tree sprawling in the middle of the channel. We had maybe 4-5 feet to pass on either side of the tree to get to the other side. On the rotten remains of a tree stump were two luminescent mushrooms... and in the dim twilight of the channel, they looked like creepy eyes staring at us.
Our Guamanian guides clammed up a bit while we were in the channel--particularly when we were passing by the banyan tree. And they didn't cheer up until we were back on the lower terrace leading to the wide fringing reef (where we were going to swim, snorkel, and picnic before returning home).
We enjoyed our play in the water and finished off our barbequed fish, chicken, and rice balls.. and got ready for our hike back up through the forest to our home. Again, as we got deeper and deeper into the forest--and particularly as we passed through the channel and squeezed past the banyan tree--our guides clammed up and didn't chatter much, except for warning us about hazards on the trail.
We were within a few 100 feet of our home when I reached up to grab a branch to steady myself as I pushed past some foilage. But the branch hissed at me... and I realized that I was face to face with a large monitor lizard perched on the tree. The lizard scrambled into the deeper maze of boonies and we scramble in the opposite direction and quickly toward home.
When we got back to the house a few minutes later, we had to spend time "chilling" and letting our nerves settle before cleaning up and moving on to other activities. The banyan tree in the channel and the others along the way were part of the adventure... but this experience gave us a bit more respect and understanding of this interesting tree.
Banyan Trees Can Be Decorative!
Banyan Branches and Droproots
Banyans by the Bay.... eBay, That Is!
"Bania" is a Gujarati language word for "Grocer" or "Merchant" -- From Which the Word "Banyan" is Derived
Merchants and their kiosks in the shade of a banyan tree, International Marketplace, Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii ---------> Banya is a Gujarati language word for "grocer" or "merchant" -- from which the word "banyan" is derived.
When early Portuguese travellers saw that "banias" or "merchants" would gather under the shady canopies of Ficus benghalensis trees in India--and they asked what was going on in the shade, they got the word "bania" or "banya" (sort of like a "market"). The Portuguese passed this word on to the English as early as 1599.
English writers tell of the "banyan tree" as a gathering place for merchants and village meetings as early as 1634. Eventually the word "banyan" became the name of the tree itself.
Close Up View of Banyan Drop Roots Infiltrating Old Stone Wall, Oahu, Hawaii
Banyans Along Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Reading Resources on the Banyan Trees and Ficus!
The Banyan Tree: A Novel by Christopher Nolan
Covering the eighty-plus years of the life of Minnie more...0 points
Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories (Penguin Modern Classics) by R.K. Narayan
This is an enchanting collection from India's fore more...0 points
Under the Banyan Tree by Toni De Palma
Irena's not sure where she's headed when she runs more...0 points
Hollister House: Legend of the Banyan Tree by Joani Lacy
She had never seen a banyan tree, and it was far more more...0 points
In The Heart of the Village: The World of the Indian Banyan Tree by Barbara Bash
In a brilliant combination of lyrical prose and gl more...0 points
The Big Banyan Tree by Ishu Acharya
"Fetch me a fruit of the banyan tree." "Here more...0 points
Grandpa's Magic Banyan Tree by Jeff Langcaon
A grandfather reminisces about playing in his favo more...0 points
Beneath the Banyan Tree by Jayakanthan
Jayakanthan's novellas Beneath the Banyan Tree and more...0 points
Sign Advising the Curious About the Banyan Tree, Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Banyan Network of Links!
- 360 Panorama View of a Huge Banyan Tree in Florida
- This site provides a unique view of a banyan tree... you can more easily understand the weirdness and eerie feeling you can get when INSIDE the branches and droproots of one of these trees. Check it out!
- Fig News ... The Ficus, The Banyans...
- This website provides more information about the natural history of these plants (as well as pictures). Check it out!
- Photos of the YangShuo Big Banyan Tree - China Highlights
- This photo website features some pictures of the YangShuo big banyan tree.
- RedBeet.Com Picture Collection of Banyan Trees
- This website has an extensive collection of banyan tree pictures.
If You Want to See Banyan Trees (The Big Ones!) In Their Native Habitat, You Have to Go There!
Drop a Note (Not a Root) and Leaf a Note!
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vallain Jun 17, 2010 @ 11:08 pm | delete
- We had one that started as a small pot plant. In a sheltered courtyard, it took over, grew huge and was affecting the foundation and the courtyard paving. It cost $900 to have it removed.
Everyone loved it, but it became a monster.
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JaguarJulie Aug 13, 2009 @ 8:14 am | delete
- Banyan trees are such amazing feats of mother nature -- they look like trees that have a story to tell.
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Aug 12, 2009 @ 11:42 am | delete
- I wonder whether I could bonsai one of those since I think that it would look awesome as a miniature in my living room. 5*
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NAIZA
Aug 12, 2009 @ 4:03 am | delete
- This tree looks like "balete tree" in Tagalog. Yep, it looks quite scary. It was featured in many horror films. I guess, you might heard that one. Terrific lens! :)
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Compendium of information on Figs!
Figs: The Genus Ficus (Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times)
Amazon Price: $109.31 (as of 06/01/2012)
If you need the ultimate reference on ficus plants, this book is the compendium of information on these interesting plants! The ficus plants include rubber trees and edible fig trees. Read up on these plants!
You Want a Ficus Bonsai Tree? You Can Get Yours Here!
Brussel's Golden Gate Ficus Specimen Bonsai, Age: 40 Yrs; Height - 29-Inch, ST7045GGF-C
Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)
This is a well-aged ficus bonsai tree... perfect for your Oriental garden to produce additional greenery and serenity.
How Explorers First Sought After the New Species of Ficus!
The Ficus Elastica In Burma Proper Or A Narrative Of My Journey In Search Of It: A Descriptive Account Of Its Habits Of Growth (1876)
Amazon Price: $29.44 (as of 06/01/2012)
This reprint of a book originally written as a journal in 1876 of a journey to Burma (MyanMar) in search for this species of Ficus elastica. An interesting look at a historical memoir of an explorer, George W. Strettell.
