Scientists accurately date Bihar’s Munger banyan at around 700 years

A banyan tree in Munger has been identified as the world’s oldest accurately dated banyan tree, with an estimated age of around 700 years.

• The findings were published in the journal Quaternary Research.
• The study was led by Trina Bose and established the tree’s age using high-precision radiocarbon dating, rather than folklore or historical records.
• Researchers extracted alpha-cellulose, the most stable component of plant cell walls, from wood samples taken near the pith of a secondary trunk and an ancient primary branch.
• The samples were analysed using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry> (AMS) and calibrated with the IntCal20 calibration curve and OxCal software, providing a scientifically robust estimate of the tree’s age.

About the Banyan Tree

• The Ficus benghalensis is native to India and is the country’s national tree.
• It is characterised by its aerial prop roots, which grow downward and develop into additional trunks, allowing the tree to spread over a vast area.
• Banyan trees are long-lived and play an important ecological role by providing habitat and food for numerous species.

Great Banyan Tree

• The Great Banyan Tree is over 270 years old.
• It is listed in the Guinness World Records for having the largest canopy spread of any tree in the world.

Sources: DD News & BSI

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