Are you into tree-spotting?

First I noticed the huge canopy from far away. Then as our car came nearer, the actual size dawned upon us and we had to literally turn up our head by more than 90 degrees to catch the full glimpse of the beautiful ficus. Tree spotting has been my favourite activity on field trips and this was no exception.

Across rural areas in peninsular India and also in the Indo-Gangetic plains, one can easily spot huge banyan trees or peepal trees (ficus religiosa), two of the most common ficuses in India. Perhaps our ancestors knew the biological importance of this family of plants as the ficus trees are vital components of tropical ecology. Experts tell us how these trees are “particularly attractive to seed dispersers in that they produce large and nutritionally rewarding fruit crops.”

Every field trip for reporting I see a minimum two-three such trees with huge canopies, may be banyan or peepul or sometimes pilkhan. If the tree is within the limits of that village, it is inevitably the centre of attraction for all and sundry. There ought to be a pucca circular platform surrounding the tree trunk comprising at least four-five large trunks so intertwined to yield a massive single trunk.

These massive trees are slowly going missing from the urban settings. Hundreds and thousands of them are culled for road expansion or other such infrastructure projects. But fortunately, in rural areas, we still spot them, unless, of course, if they don’t fall in the land acquired for any road or other infra project. Awareness is the key.  

The question is: Do you notice these trees when you travel? Be it from the comfort of your airconditioned cars or be it a public transport vehicle such as bus or even a train.