The **Vad Tree**, also known as the **Banyan Tree**, is a massive, long-living evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent. Scientifically known as *Ficus benghalensis*, it belongs to the **Moraceae** family and is one of the largest canopy-producing trees in the world. --- ## 🧬 **Botanical Description** * **Scientific name:** *Ficus benghalensis* * **Common names:** Banyan Tree, Vad Tree (Gujarati/Marathi), Barh (Hindi) * **Family:** Moraceae (Mulberry family) * **Type:** Evergreen tree * **Height:** Typically 20–25 meters, can exceed 30 meters * **Spread:** Its canopy can span over several acres * **Growth Pattern:** Begins life as an epiphyte (growing on another tree), then sends aerial roots down to the soil, forming new trunks