Ficus benghalensis

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Ficus benghalensis L.
The specific epithet benghalensis comes from the fact that the plant is native of Bengal.
Common Name : Vad, Banyan
Plant Family : Moraceae
Earlier this plant was placed in family Urticaceae but according to the modern views it should be placed in a separate family Moraceae which is separated from family Urticaceae.
Plant Form : Tree
Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10-18, 20-24, 26-30
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Punit Van, Sarita Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra

Habit : A very large tree with aerial roots.
Leaves : Ovate, obtuse, entire, coriaceous, bud-scale stipules.
Inflorescence : Hypanthodium, receptacles in sessile pairs, axillary globose, red when ripe, with 3 basal bracts.
Flowers :
- Male flowers many near the mouth with sepals 4, lanceolate. Stamen 1.
- Gall flowers sepals 4, style short.
- Female flowers with sepals shorter than male, ovary straight, long excentric.
Fruit : Syconus red, globose.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : November-January
Significance : Common everywhere and planted on road sides.