Ficus benghalensis L.

Tree up to 20 (or more) m tall, (in cultivation) terrestrial. Branches drying greyish to brown. Leafy twigs 5-10 mm thick, ± angular, whitish puberulous; periderm persistent or flaking off. Leaves spirally arranged; lamina ovate to elliptic, 7-30 by 4-20 cm, coriaceous, apex rounded, base cordate to rounded; upper surface sparsely white puberulous on the midrib, lower surface whitish puberulous on the midrib and lateral veins; midrib slightly prominent to flat above, lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, the basal pair distinct, up to 1/3-1/2 the length of the lamina, branched, tertiary venation reticulate; waxy gland at the base of the midrib; petiole 2-7 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, whitish puberulous, drying brown to blackish; stipules 1.5-3.5 cm long, densely whitish puberulous, caducous. Figs axillary, paired, sessile, initially enclosed in up to 1 cm long calyptrate bud covers; basal bracts 3, 3-10 mm long, ± unequal in size and shape, minutely puberulous, persistent; receptacle depressed-globose, 1.2-1.8 cm diam. when dry, white puberulous (and often also with numerous minute brown hairs), red at maturity, apex convex, ostiole 2.5-3.5 mm diam., slightly prominent to flat, ± open, the 3 upper ostiolar bracts partly imbricate; wall ± shrivelled when dry; internal hairs absent. Tepals reddish. Ovary partly red.

A tropical plant. In Nepal it grows up to 1400 m altitude. They are common over the plains of India. The grow wild in the sub-Himalayan forests. It is a tropical plant. It can tolerate frost. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Has great religious significance for the Hindus in India and is widely cultivated in Asia. The fibrous young aerial roots are used in India to make rope (Rodd 1996: 218). Used in traditional medicine and researched for its chemical and potential pharmacological properties.

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Young branches should be used for cuttings. Cuttings root easily. One famous tree in Calcutta covers 1.6 ha.