This is Aldrich Park in the campus of University of California Irvine, close to my work. It serves as short cut for students to get to the classroom buildings. On weekends, kids and families go to this big circle park set among trees and greeneries to walk or just romp around.
This tree with huge buttress roots caught our attention, it is called the Moreton Bay fig or Australian Banyan tree, native to Australia. Aside from being a food source, the bark and roots are also used to manufacture handicrafts, bark cloths and shields. They can grow up to 50 meters tall and live up to 100 years. Fig trees like this, also promotes the growth of other tree species because they attract various seed dispensers.
The roots can grow up to 30 feet tall and spread for 30 meters above the ground. They tend to stay on the surface ground since the topsoil contain the most nutrients.
I won't be seeing you again cause I am leaving work at Irvine. Goodbye my old banyan tree!