MALAYAN BANYAN FIG (Ficus Retusa / Ficus Microcarpa)
The Malayan Banyan natural habitats are the river banks and swampy flood plains which just lie inland of the mangrove, and the exposed rocky coast. It is common in Singapore where it is often the sole survivor of the original tree flora on the banks of the Singapore River. It is also common on old buildings, where its numerous aerial roots hang down in tasseled festoons and sometimes develop into thick prop roots that help support the massive branches. The tree looks like the Benjamin Fig but the twigs are thicker and do not droop, the leaves lack drip tips and the small fruit do not pass through an orange stage and are purplish black when ripen. The aerial roots are used by the Chinese as medicine. In India, the leaves and roots are used as a medicine to cure wounds and bruises, the bark and leaves for headache, and the juice of the leaves for colic when applied externally, and for liver disease when taken internally. The small figs are also used as a pain killer.
Do you know ... a huge Ficus Microcarpa at Toa Payoh Central gives shelter to a small Buddhist temple. In 2013, a severe storm toppled this massive tree over.
BANYAN TREES
Many local Singaporeans call some larger fig trees "banyan" trees, so how did this name originate ?
In the early days when the Europeans were trading in India, they saw native Indian merchants regularly conducting their activities under the shade of huge trees. Whenever there were these huge shady trees, there were these merchants and traders called Banias. It was said that a handshake made under a banyan tree is to be considered as good as a paper contract. The association of these merchants and trees was so significant that the English begin to refer to these trees as banyan trees. These huge fig trees are Ficus Benghalensis or the Indian Banyan. in fact the largest tree in the world is Ficus Benghalensis at the Calcutta Botanic Garden which is reputed to have 1000 prop roots and to spread its canopy over an area of eight hectares (slightly over 3 football fields). The Indian Banyan is also the national tree of India.
As stranglers, they might have started their lives as tiny epiphytes and eventually become single fig trees with multiple trunks spreading over large areas. These hardy banyans have been the foci of village activities in many parts of Tropical Asia. Under these trees, village meetings are held, people gather to exchange news, and social and civic activities take place. It is not uncommon to find schools and small markets under the shade of banyans.
Do you know ... a huge Ficus Microcarpa at Toa Payoh Central gives shelter to a small Buddhist temple. In 2013, a severe storm toppled this massive tree over.
BANYAN TREES
Many local Singaporeans call some larger fig trees "banyan" trees, so how did this name originate ?
In the early days when the Europeans were trading in India, they saw native Indian merchants regularly conducting their activities under the shade of huge trees. Whenever there were these huge shady trees, there were these merchants and traders called Banias. It was said that a handshake made under a banyan tree is to be considered as good as a paper contract. The association of these merchants and trees was so significant that the English begin to refer to these trees as banyan trees. These huge fig trees are Ficus Benghalensis or the Indian Banyan. in fact the largest tree in the world is Ficus Benghalensis at the Calcutta Botanic Garden which is reputed to have 1000 prop roots and to spread its canopy over an area of eight hectares (slightly over 3 football fields). The Indian Banyan is also the national tree of India.
As stranglers, they might have started their lives as tiny epiphytes and eventually become single fig trees with multiple trunks spreading over large areas. These hardy banyans have been the foci of village activities in many parts of Tropical Asia. Under these trees, village meetings are held, people gather to exchange news, and social and civic activities take place. It is not uncommon to find schools and small markets under the shade of banyans.