The Banyan is the grandfather of the Maldivian forest. These massive trees create their own micro-climates, offering a cool refuge from the midday sun. Their aerial roots drop from branches to the ground, eventually forming secondary trunks. A single Nika tree can eventually cover a massive area, serving as a hub for local fruit bats and birds. Alexander Laurel ( Calophyllum inophyllum ) – 'Funa'

The trees and shrubs of the Maldives are not merely “heat tolerant”—they are . From the salt-sprayed Scaevola to the rock-clinging Pemphis , each species has a strategy to turn the Maldives’ extreme tropical heat into a manageable, even beneficial, environment. Next time you see a gnarly Kuredhi bush growing out of bare coral sand under a 36°C sun, stop and appreciate it: you are looking at millions of years of hot-weather mastery.

Easily recognized by its "walking" prop roots. The fruit is a traditional staple, often sliced and eaten with sugar or cooked into desserts. Banyan Tree (