The banyan tree has aerial roots hanging down to the ground from its branches. It is a parasitic plant that grows « à l’envers »- i.e. "upside-down" attached to a carrier, usually a tree.
The seed of the banyan is dropped in the fork of a tree by a bird. This seed produces several long roots along the tree where it is growing. After getting in contact with the soil, these roots become very strong. They multiply, intertwine and fuse together forming a tight net which strangles the tree and kill it by choking it and robbing the victim tree of the light it needs. By the time the trunk of the victim tree decomposes, the banyan gains enough strength to stand by itself. The banyan fruits attract flocks of birds such as parrots, lorikeets, pigeons ...
A magnificent banyan can be admired in Prony (Municipality of Mont Dore - South). This envelops a whole wall of a building of the penal colony.
It played a mythic role in Melanesian culture where it is often cited in written or oral literature. It is associated with funeral rituals. In fact, to honour the Chiefs, their remains were deposited inside the intertwining roots of the banyan tree. The tree is also used by the Chiefs who deliberate under it.
In traditional medicine, the fresh « lait » - i.e. "milk" of the banyan has medicinal properties, but it becomes caustic in a few days.
It is used also in sports; cricket balls are made using the dried latex of Ficus prolixa. Finally, the intertwined banyan roots are also used to make canoe floats.
Parasitic plant
Melanesian Culture and Uses
