Nestled within the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Shibpur, Howrah, near the bustling city of Kolkata, ...

Banyans start their lives as epiphytes germinated from sticky seeds that lodge in the branches or crevasses of another tree. Banyans can reach 60-80 feet in height with an equal or larger spread.

The banyan tree or Ficus benghalensis is known for its massive spreading trunk and root system. ... A banyan tree, in a 1719 novel by Daniel Defoe, was where Robinson Crusoe makes his home.

Ficus religiosa, or the Peepal tree, is equally important in Indian tradition. ... A Banyan tree also plays an important role in the Indian village life, as a community centre.

This combination of photos shows the historic Lahaina banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii, after the Lahaina wildfire on Aug. 10, 2023, left, and July 6, 2024, right. (AP Photo) ...

These photos show the historic banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii, immediately after the Maui wildfire on Aug. 11, 2023, top left, and Aug. 10, 2023, bottom left, and 11 months later on July 6, 2024 ...