Banyan Fig

Common Name: Strangling Fig, Banyan Fig, Indian Banyan, Indian Fig
Scientific Name: Ficus microcarpa
Family: Moraceae (Fig Trees)

General facts:

• Fruits are favourite of some birds, usually can find orioles and starlings in trees
• Starts off life as an epiphyte on host tree after seeds deposited by birds
• Aerial prop roots
• Flowers are in fig fruit, not exposed
• Requires specific species of fig wasp for pollination
• Considered as religious icon in India
• Can grow up to a hectare

Interesting facts

• Parasitism; compete with host tree for sunlight and space, eventually leading to death of host tree
• Mutualism; fig wasp absoulutely has to lay eggs within fig, fig absolutely requires fig wasp for pollination of flowers in fig