On the Genus Ficus. 113 



and the vast number of smaller stems in every stage of develop- 

 ment — some just protruding from the horizontal limbs, others 

 hanging midway between the leafy cauopy aud the earth, 

 displaying on each thick rounded extremity an enormous 

 spongiole, while many reach the soil, and, having attained 

 strength aud size, act as columns to sustain the whole struc- 

 ture/'' The best example of this very peculiar provision for 

 supporting so wide-spread a canopy is to be found in the 

 Banyan-tree (Ficus Indica, L.) Fig. 1. This tree is certainly 

 one of the most famous and interesting of all the East Indian 

 forms of vegetation, and is the best type of the peculiar adapta- 

 bility of the genus in forming irregular trunks, and that in a 

 manner quite contrary to the usual mode of proceeding in the 

 vegetable world. We all know that one of the laws of plant- 

 life is to send its root downwards and its stem upwards, so 

 that the former may take in from the earth the nutriment there 

 stored, while the latter, developing itself by its natural appen- 

 dages, performs the important functions of respiration. This, 

 of course, in its infancy, is the case with the banyan; but after 

 it has grown, and formed its crown of foliage by throwing out 

 its branches, and while yet a young tree, these branches per- 

 form a double duty; for besides being the support of the leaves, 

 they throw out again downward branches, which reach, and 

 strike root in the ground, and then go on growing as true 

 stems, thus forming a support for the spreading mass above. 

 These trees are common all over the East Indies : and to such 

 a size do they grow, that one tree forms a miniature forest in 

 itself. The largest banyan-tree is said to be on the banks of the 

 Nerbuddah river, where, for aught we know, it is still growing. 

 Forbes, in his " Oriental Memoirs," says the circumference of 

 the tree at the time of writing the account, was nearly 2000 

 feet, and the overhanging branches which had not thrown 

 down their props or supports, stretched over a much larger 

 area. The tree had as many as 320 main trunks, and over 

 3000 smaller ones, and was capable of giving shelter to 7000 

 men. These dimensions appear almost fabulous; there is, 

 however, another fine tree at Mhow, which has sixty- eight 

 stout stems, and can give shade, even under a vertical sun, to 

 an immense number of men ; indeed, we are constantly told 

 that a regiment of cavalry can conveniently take refuge be- 

 neath one. For large assemblies or meetings they form perfect 

 natural tents. It is very certain that these immense trees 

 must be of great age ; and we should naturally expect to find 

 a full, description of so remarkable an object in the works of 

 the old classic authors. Strabo's description is both minute 

 and accurate, as is also that of Pliny. The banyan has been 

 the theme of poets in more recent times, as well as of travellers 

 vol. x. — NO. II. I 



