banyan

Everyday

A tropical fig tree from India whose branches drop roots down to the ground, which grow into new trunks so one tree can look like a whole forest. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons, the banyan is the national tree of India and an example of aerial roots. In stories and religion, people rest and meet under banyan trees; Hindus and Buddhists see it as special.

Examples

• The banyan tree spread across the whole village square. tree →
• Banyan roots hang down from the branches. tree →
• One banyan can cover a huge area. tree →
• The banyan is India's national tree. tree →
• Children played under the shady banyan. tree →
• A banyan starts life growing on another tree. tree →
• So they went to a banyan tree, and stripped the bark to make strings for their slings, and next they repaired to the river bank to find stones. tree →

Note

Say «BAN-yan». Countable. It is a kind of fig tree.