The Great Banyan Tree, located in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah, West Bengal, India,

 

Photo by Ankit Bhattacharjee: https://www.pexels.com/photo/banyan-tree-with-many-branches

The Great Banyan Tree, located in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah, West Bengal, India, is renowned for its massive size and impressive spread. It's considered one of the largest and oldest banyan trees in the world.

Here are some interesting facts about it:

1. Size and Spread: The Great Banyan Tree covers an area of about 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) and has a canopy that stretches out over 330 meters (about 1,000 feet) in diameter.

2. Age: It’s estimated to be over 250 years old, although the exact age is uncertain. Its age is difficult to determine accurately due to its continuous growth and the way it propagates.

3. Propagation: Banyan trees are known for their aerial roots, which grow down from the branches and take root in the ground, creating new trunks. This allows the tree to spread outwards indefinitely and gives it a unique, complex structure.

4. Historical Significance: The tree has been a focal point for local communities for centuries and has witnessed significant historical events in the region.

5. Conservation: The Great Banyan Tree is protected by the botanic garden, and efforts are made to preserve it due to its ecological and historical importance.

The Great Banyan Tree is not just a remarkable botanical specimen but also a symbol of endurance and resilience in nature

Photo by Jeremy Bishop: https://www.pexels.com/photo/large-banyan-tree

Botanical Name Local Name of Family

Acacia catechu Khair  Mimosaceae

Aegle marmelos Bael  Rutaceae

Anogeissus latifolia Dhawda Combretaceae

Anogeissus pendula Kardhai Combretaceae

Antidesma diandrum Khatua  Euphorbiaceae

Bauhinia vahlii Mahul  Caesalpiniaceae

Bombax ceiba Semal  Bombacaceae

Boswellia serrata Salai  Burseraceae

Buchanania lanzan Achar  Anacardiaceae

Butea monosperma Palash  Fabaceae

Cassia fistula Amaltas  Caesalpiniaceae

Diospyros melanoxylon Tendu  Ebenaceae

Flacourtia indica Kakai  Flacourtiaceae

Gardenia latifolia Papada  Rubiaceae

Lagerstroemia parviflora Lendia  Lythraceae

Lannea coromandelica Moyan Anacardiaceae

Madhuca indica Mahua  Sapotaceae

Pterocarpus marsupium Bijasal  Fabaceae

Saccopetalum tomentosum Kari Annonaceae

Stephegyne parvifolia Kaim  Rubiaceae

Tectona grandis Teak  Lamiaceae

Terminalia arjuna Arjun Combretaceae

Terminalia tomentosa Saja Combretaceae

Zizyphus xylopara Ghont  Rhamnaceae

Aegle marmelos Bael  Rutaceae

Albizzia odoratissima Chichwa Fabaceae

Anogeissus latifolia Dhawda  Combretaceae

Bauhinia racemosa Asta  Caesalpiniaceae

Bombax ceiba Semal  Bombacaceae

Boswellia serrata Salai  Burseraceae

Bridelia retusa Kasai  Phyllanthaceae

Buchanania lanzan Achar  Anacardiaceae

Butea monosperma Palash  Fabaceae

Careya arborea Kumbhi  Lecythidaceae

Casearia tomentosa Tondri  Flacourtiaceae

Chloroxylon swietenia Bhirra  Rutaceae

Cleistanthus collinus Garari  Phyllanthaceae

Dalbergia paniculata Dhowin  Fabaceae

Diospyros melanoxylon Tendu  Ebenaceae

Ficus infectoria Pakar  Moraceae

Flacourtia indica Kakai  Flacourtiaceae

Gardenia latifolia Papada  Rubiaceae

Grewia tiliaefolia Dhaman  Tiliaceae

Ixora parviflora Lokhandi  Rubiaceae

Lagerstroemia parviflora Lendia  Lythraceae

Lannea coromandelica Moyan Anacardiaceae

Madhuca indica Mahua  Sapotaceae

Nyctanthes arbortristis Harsinghar  Oleaceae

Ougeinia oojeinensis Tinsa  Fabaceae

Phyllanthus emblica Aonla  Phyllanthaceae

Saccopetalum tomentosum Kari  Annonaceae

Schleichera oleosa Kosum  Sapindaceae

Semecarpus anacardium Bhilwa Anacardiaceae

Sterculia urens Kullu  Sterculiaceae

Stereospermum suaveolens Padar  Bignoniaceae

Tectona grandis Teak  Lamiaceae

Terminalia tomentosa Saja  Combretaceae

Zizyphus xylopara Ghont  Rhamnaceae

Acacia catechu Khair  Mimosaceae

Aegle marmelos Bael  Rutaceae

Albizzia odoratissima Chichwa Fabaceae

Anogeissus latifolia Dhawda  Combretaceae

Anogeissus pendula Kardhai  Combretaceae

Bauhinia racemosa Asta  Caesalpiniaceae

Bombax ceiba Semal  Bombacaceae

Bridelia retusa Kasai  Phyllanthaceae

Buchanania lanzan Achar  Anacardiaceae

Butea monosperma Palash  Fabaceae

Cassia fistula Amaltas  Caesalpiniaceae

Chloroxylon swietenia Bhirra  Rutaceae

Dalbergia paniculata Dhowin  Fabaceae

Diospyros melanoxylon Tendu  Ebenaceae

Flacourtia indica Kakai Flacourtiaceae

Gardenia latifolia Papada  Rubiaceae

Grewia tiliaefolia Dhaman Tiliaceae

Hardwickia binata Anja Caesalpiniaceae

Holarrhena antidysenterica Kudas Apocynaceae

Lagerstromia parviflora Lendia  Lythraceae

Lannea coromandelica Moyan  Anacardiaceae

Madhuca indica Mahua  Sapotaceae

Mitragyna parvifolia Mundi Rubiaceae

Ougeinia oojeinensis Tinsa  Fabaceae

Phyllanthus emblica Aonla  Phyllanthaceae

Pterocarpus marsupium Bijasal  Fabaceae

Saccopetalum tomentosum Kari  Annonaceae

Schleichera oleosa Kosum  Sapindaceae

Semecarpus anacardium Bhilwa  Anacardiaceae

Shorea robusta Sal  Dipterocarpaceae

Soymida febrifuga Rohni  Meliaceae

Stephegyne parvifolia Kaim  Rubiaceae

Syzygium cumini Jamun  Myrtaceae

Tectona grandis Teak  Lamiaceae

Terminalia belerica Bahera  Combretaceae

Terminalia chebula Harra  Combretaceae

Terminalia tomentosa Saja  Combretaceae

Zizyphus xylopara Ghont  Rhamnaceae

Adina cordifolia Haldu  Rubiaceae

Anogeissus latifolia Dhawda  Combretaceae

Bombax ceiba Semal  Bombacaceae

Butea monosperma Palash  Fabaceae

Cassia fistula Amaltas  Caesalpiniaceae

Diospyros melanoxylon Tendu  Ebenaceae

Ficus glomarata Gular  Moraceae

Lagerstromia parviflora Lendia  Lythraceae

Madhuca indica Mahua  Sapotaceae

Semecarpus anacardium Bhilwa Anacardiaceae

Pterocarpus marsupium Bijasal  Fabaceae

Tectona grandis Teak  ,Lamiaceae

Terminalia tomentosa Saja, Combretaceae