Kallicchi is Ficus microcarpa, the Chinese banyan or Indian laurel fig, a glossy-leaved fig planted along Indian avenues and sold everywhere as a bonsai. Its seeds sprout in cracks of walls, temples and bridges, where the roots slowly prise stone apart. It is smaller-leaved than the great banyan, aalam, Ficus benghalensis, and its figs are tiny, purple-black and eaten by birds.
- Botanical name
- Ficus microcarpa L.f.
- Family
- Moraceae
- Tamil
- Kallicchi
- Hindi
- Chhota bar
- Parts used
- Fig in lists, Aerial root as a street tree
- Habit
- Small-fruited banyan of avenues, walls and bonsai pots
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Kallicchi
It is an evergreen tree, often fifteen metres or more, with a dense, rounded crown and grey bark.
Thin aerial roots hang from the branches and thicken into extra trunks where they reach the ground.
The leaves are smooth, glossy and elliptic, usually five to ten centimetres long, much smaller than banyan leaves.
Small round figs, about a centimetre across, sit in pairs in the leaf axils and ripen from yellow to purple-black.
Banyan has large, leathery, often hairy leaves and bigger red figs.
Traditional use of Kallicchi
Garden
It is planted as a shade and avenue tree in Indian cities and clipped into hedges and topiary.
Indian urban planting practice
Garden
Young plants with swollen roots are sold worldwide as ginseng ficus bonsai.
Nursery trade practice
Ritual
Like other figs it is often left standing at shrines and temples, where it may grow from the walls.
South Indian practice
Modern notes on Kallicchi
Each fig species has its own tiny pollinating wasp; this tree needs Eupristina verticillata to set seed.
Where that wasp was introduced, as in Florida and Hawaii, the tree began to spread by seed and became invasive.
Roots of trees planted too close to buildings, drains and pavements often crack them.
Kallicchi safety
The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, so wear gloves when pruning. Plant it well away from foundations, walls and pipes.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native from southern China and India through South-east Asia to Australia.
Birds and bats eat the figs and drop seeds on walls and in tree forks, where they start as epiphytes.
Fruiting trees feed mynas, barbets, koels and fruit bats in cities.
Related plants
Also in Moraceae
Questions about Kallicchi
Is Kallicchi the same as banyan?
No. Banyan is Ficus benghalensis, with much larger leaves.
Why does Kallicchi grow on walls?
Birds drop its seeds in cracks, where they sprout.
Can Kallicchi damage buildings?
Yes. Its roots can crack walls and pavements.
Are the figs edible?
They are tiny and mainly eaten by birds.
Is Kallicchi used as bonsai?
Yes, often sold as ginseng ficus.
Sources
- Ficus microcarpa L.f. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q714180 (Ficus microcarpa)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.