Banyan Trees

Banyan trees are pretty cool! Until visiting Florida, I'd never seen one before. I was so impressed I did this pastel drawing of the one I climbed up in 2003.


"Banyan Trees in Florida", Chalk pastel on paper, 26" x 19", 2004



The banyan has characteristics peculiar to itself. It is a native of India but grows well in Florida where the climate is similar. The banyan rarely starts on the ground, but its life begins possibly in the crown of a palm tree where the seed may have been carried by a bird. Here it grows until it embraces and finally kills the palm. Small roots come from the branches at regular intervals. These grow downward to the ground and attach themselves to the soil, take food direct from it and thus form new trunk or prop. In this way numerous trunks are formed. As the tree advances in age and size it finally breaks apart, forming separate trees. The old tree decays and the new divisions become, in turn, new centers for additional trees. The name "banyan" means merchant and is so given because the native Indian merchants spread their wares in the shade of these trees. The wood of the banyan is light and is of no commerical value. The Hindus use its glutinous sap for medicinal purposes.