Banyan, Ficus benghalensis
The Moraceae, the mulberry, fig family
Vita: 10/10 Gnarl: 10/10 Wildness: 2/10 Accessibility: 10/10 Sensitivity: 3/10
Country: West Bengal, India -- Whereabouts: In the Howrah Botanical Gardens near Kolkata
What we love about this tree:
One of the world's most spectacular examples of vegetation and also renowned across India as a natural landmark
If you are in Kolkata in the east of India, make sure to make the trip across the Hoohghly River to Howrah to discover the quiet green surroundings of the Indian Botanical Gardens. Planted in 1787 by British colonialists, it is now run by the Indian Botanical Survey and is a centre of expertise in an incredibly biodiverse region. It was measured via aerial photo in 2010 and has a crown spread of 199 metres, and covers 20,000 square metres.
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