The gardens of the Jain Temple at Calcutta, India, 
have an architecture all their own. Most of the beds 
are laid out in cement and mosaic stone with just 
small openings for such plants as Coleus, Impatiens 
and low Pileas. In taller plants, there are cannas with 
variegated foliage, dwarf bamboo trimmed to 
shape, Pandanus and sunflowers. Steaming Bengal 
does not show much interest in plants except scented 
flowers and food plants. 
Ficus benghalensis, the Banyan tree, spreads by 
forming secondary trunks. The famous Banyan in 
Sibpur, Bengal, covers a diameter more than 300 
feet. The story goes that Alexander the Great 
camped under such a tree with 7,000 men. 
Flower petals are offered as a token of devotion at 
the shrines of Siva, whose symbol is surrounded by 
the sacred Cobras. 
This Ficus Indica began life by climbing upon an- 
other tree which will soon be killed by this strangler. 
Mahabalipuram, India. 
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