Banyan Tree Taxonomy

The scientific name of the Banyan tree: Scientific name of the banyan tree is Ficus benghalensis. A banyan tree, also known as “banian,” belongs to the fig family, that grows additional trunks from its roots, helping it spread outward endlessly. This makes banyan trees different from other trees that start as epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants when their seeds germinate in cracks or crevices of a host tree or building. The term “banyan” is often specifically used for Ficus benghalensis, also called the “Indian banyan,” which is India’s national tree. However, the name is also used more generally for all fig trees that have a similar life cycle and are classified under the subgenus Urostigma in taxonomy.