Illustrated Investigation of the Names and Realities of Plants

Page 10

Woody Plants: Volume 37

...girth original: "徑" (jing). This completes the sentence from the previous page: "...before they are even a hand’s span in girth.". Because the He Tree remains "nameless" and its wood is considered common, it escapes the early axe and is permitted to grow into a giant of the forest.

The Banyan Tree

original: "榕" (Rong). The species depicted is Ficus microcarpa, also known as the Chinese Banyan. It is famous for its "aerial roots" which can grow down from branches to form new trunks, allowing a single tree to eventually resemble a small forest.

The woodcut illustration on this page provides a detailed view of a mature Banyan. The artist emphasizes the thick, textured bark and the dense, spreading canopy of oval-shaped leaves. In traditional Chinese culture, these trees are often found at the center of villages, serving as "shade of the people."