XCI. URTICACEiE 
459 
Leaves alternate. 
Leaves lanceolate ; basal lobes very unequal. Figs 
| in. diam. . . 6. F. Cunia. 
Leaves broadly ovate ; basal lobes equal. Figs 2-8 
in. diam. ........ 10. F. Roxlurghii. 
1. Ficus bengalensis, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 499. A large, 
spreading tree producing numerous, aerial roots which enter the 
ground and form tranks, thus indefinitely extending the growth of 
the tree ; young parts pubescent, otherwise nearly or quite glabrous. 
Leaves leathery, ovate, 4-8 x 2-5 in., obtuse, entire ; stalks -^-2 in., 
thick. Figs pubescent, axillary, sessile in pairs, globose, J-J in. 
diam., red when ripe. 
Valleys below Simla ; figs ripen April, May, and remain long on the tree.— 
Wild only in the sub-Himalayan forests and on the hills of Southern India ; 
planted throughout the plains and up to 4000 ft. in the Himalaya. The 
Banyan. 
The Banyan in the Calcutta Botanic Gardens began life as an epiphyte on a 
wild date-tree of which all trace has long disappeared. Dr. (now Sir George) 
King gave the following details regarding this famous tree in 1886. ‘ The tree is 
now about a hundred years old ; it has 282 aerial roots all reaching the ground 
and forming trunks from a few inches to 12 ft. in girth. The main trunk girths 
42 ft., the circumference of its leafy crown is 857 ft. It is still growing vigorously.’ 
*2. Ficus Rumphii, Bl. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 512. A large tree, 
glabrous, often epiphytal, having the aspect of the Pipal, 
F. religiosa, to which it is closely allied. Leaves leathery, broadly 
ovate, 4-6 in., upper surface shining, base rounded, margins entire, 
slightly undulate, tip narrowed into a tail-like point about one-sixth 
of the total length of the leaf ; stalks 2^-3^ in. Figs axillary, 
sessile in pairs, globose, \ in. diam., pale with dark spots when 
young, nearly black when ripe ; basal bracts 3, small, rounded. 
Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft., not common ; figs ripen May, 
June. — Malay islands. 
3. Ficus religiosa, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 513. A large tree, 
glabrous, usually epiphytal. Leaves leathery, broadly ovate, 
4^-7 x3-4^ in., upper surface shining, base rounded, margins 
entire, undulate, tip narrowed into a linear, tail-like point, about 
one third of the total length of the leaf ; stalks 3-4 in., slender ; 
young foliage flushed with pink. Figs axillary, sessile in pairs, 
globose, slightly vertically flattened, \ in. diam., dark purple when 
ripe ; basal bracts 3, broad. 
Valleys below Simla ; figs ripen April, May.— Wild in the sub-Himalayan 
forests, in Bengal and in Central India ; planted throughout the plains, and 
up to 5000 ft. in the Himalaya. The Pipal. 
4. Ficus clavata, Wall. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 520. An erect shrub ; 
young branches rough. Leaves glabrous, rough, oblong-lanceolate, 
4-7 in. ; margins irregularly and sinuately toothed in the upper 
half, tip narrowed into a long point ; stalks about } in. Figs shortly 
