Ficus burkei aerial roots

Reddish, hair-like aerial roots are sometimes seen on the bigger Ficus burkei branches, descending from branch to ground over time. Once they reach the soil, if they do, they thicken into pillar-like secondary trunks, serving to support heavy horizontal limbs that might otherwise break under their own weight.

In banyan trees, a well-known fig tree found in Asia, hundreds of prop roots can support a crown spread over a vast area. These roots expand the crown, sturdily anchor the canopy to occupy more space, while adding capacity for absorbing moisture and nutrients for feeding the expanded structure (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).