Banyan ~ Ficus benghalensis, the Indian Fig Tree:
The Banyan Tree (‘Vat’ or ‘Bargad’) is the National Tree of India. It finds a mention in many scriptures as a tree of immortality. In Hindu mythology, the banyan tree is referred as ‘Kalpavriksha’, the tree that provides fulfillment of wishes and other material gains. The big banyan tree was a thing of great wonder for the army of Alexander and its presence was recorded in detail by Aristobulus, Alexander’s civil engineer.