Ficus benghalensis Bengal Banyan fig 1,000 - 5,000 seeds

Description

Ficus benghalensis Bengal Banyan fig
Origin:
warm plains of central and south India
Ficus benghalensis, the banyan, (Other names are also known as 'Bengal fig', 'Indian fig', also bargad, borh, wad (Marathi:वड ), . In Tamil it is known as aalamaram (ஆலமரம்). Sanskrit names include nyagrodha.) is a large and extensive growing tree of the Indian subcontinent. This evergreen plant attains a height of 3mt, have aerial branches and aerial roots. The leaves are stalked, ovate, 3-nerved, entire, petiole with abroad greasy gland at the apex. Fruits are in axillary pairs, round in shape. Ficus benghalensis produces propagating roots which grow downwards as aerial roots. Once these roots reach the ground, they grow into woody trunks that can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. The propagation of this plant can be done through seed, transplanting and stem-cutting. This plant is used as astringent to bowels; useful in treatment of biliousness, ulcers, erysipelas, vomiting, vaginal complains, fever, inflammations, leprosy. According to Unani system of medicine, its latex is aphrodisiac, tonic, vulernary, maturant, lessens inflammations; useful in piles, nose-diseases, gonorrhea etc. The aerial root is styptic, useful in syphilis, biliousness, dysentery, inflammation of liver etc.
GERMINATION
Do NOT place the seeds intoor onto the ground - these seeds need to be placed onto the rough surface of the bark of "host" trees or wooden substitutes (see the last two photos), because it starts up as epiphytic (tree-hosted) plant. Keep it moist but be careful not to flush the small seeds into the soil with the water. After germination, the growing plant will engulf the host plant (growing around it), and its roots will grow towards and into the ground by themselves. Germination should occur if you keep the seeds moist. These plants are heavy fruit carriers. Moist potting soil (when the roots reach the soil), good drainage required.
USDA zone: 10-12
19,500-19,800 seeds/kg