Unveiling the Secrets of the Baobab Tree: A Symbol of Life and Adaptation

The baobab tree immediately evokes associations with the sultry African savanna. Typically found in tropical African territories, this tree is truly unique, possessing a wide range of uses.

What is so special about the Baobab tree?

The famous traveller and naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt referred to these representatives of the genus Adansonia as ‘the oldest living monument on the planet’.

The Baobab tree is most well-known for its unique appearance. Their height is relatively small at 12-20 metres, but their excessively inflated trunks reach 10 metres across, and their circumference is 30-40 metres. The 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of Records mentions a baobab with a girth of 54.5 metres!

The baobab has acclimated to its arid savannas in a rather unusual way. Firstly its roots spread over the surface for more than a dozen metres, efficiently absorbing all moisture and nutrients available to them. This is then stored inside its trunk like a huge sponge. Its 10 cm thick bark prevents water from evaporating.

How long can Baobab trees live?

Carbon dating suggests that baobab trees can live to be around 3,000 years old and that they can reach huge sizes. Up to 40 individuals can find shelter inside the massive hollow trunk of an ancient baobab tree in Zimbabwe.

Why do elephants like baobab trees?

Elephants have a special relationship with the baobab tree, eating its fruit which in turn spreads its seeds. Elephants also take advantage of the baobab's ability to store water by stripping off its bark and chewing on the wet fibres. This usually causes minimal harm to the tree which will regenerate its protective bark.

What is the myth of the baobab tree?

It is during the dry period that the baobab sheds its leaves, and gains that classic ‘upside down tree’ appearance as its branches resemble a mass of roots. This inspired popular folklore that changed from region to region, but the general myth is the Baobab tree angered the Gods when it did not want to live where they originally placed it, as it was too damp. The gods, insulted by the Baobab's ungrateful attitude, took it to an arid area and planted it upside down. And so the mighty baobab stands to this day, reminding everyone to always be grateful for what they receive in life.

Wildlife that Rely on Baobab Trees

But not everything is so bad as in folklore. It appears that the baobab has adapted very well to its arid environment. After losing its leaves, the baobab begins to bloom – round buds appear on the bare branches. At night, they bloom into large white flowers with dark red spherical stamens. These are pollinated not by bees as you may presume but in fact by fruit bats. The bats need to be on the ball as the Baobab’s flowers only live for one night.

After the pollination night, the baobab fruits begin to appear, oval with thick fluffy skin, containing a delicious sourish pulp with black seeds, which is very popular with the local baboons.

It is a long-established fact that the baobab has a soft, water-saturated wood, and therefore is subject to various fungi that eat it from the inside – so the trunks of these trees are often hollow.

But in addition to elephants, bats and baboons, the baobab also provides shelter and food for many other native animal species. Galago primates seek refuge in their hollows. Kingfishers, barn owls, rhinoceros birds, parrots and lovebirds rest on its branches. Its fruit is also consumed by warthogs, antelopes and several other small mammals. Baobab is truly a universal tree.

Why is baobab called the ‘Tree of Life’?

The local people have also been utilising the baobab for millennia. From its bark, a coarse fibre is made, from which a strong fabric, bags, fishing nets, and ropes are subsequently made. Various medicines are made from the tree’s ashes, which are used to treat colds, dysentery, fever, asthma, and the heart, and they also relieve toothache and unpleasant sensations that occur after bites by mosquitoes, flies and other insects. Young shoots are used instead of asparagus in boiled form, salads are made from green leaves, and spices are made from dried ones. The highly nutritious fruit tastes like citrus, so it is prepared in a drink that resembles lemonade. Baobab seeds are eaten both raw and fried, while the roasted grains, pre-crushed, create a drink that resembles coffee. Flower pollen is used to make glue. Drinking cups are made from the fruit’s shells. The smoke created when burning the dried pulp drives away insects, primarily mosquitoes. Baobab oil is produced by cold pressing the seeds and is used not only in cooking but also in cosmetics.

Key Takeaways:

• The baobab is a unique and iconic tree, known for its massive girth.
• Carbon dating indicates that baobab trees can live for thousands of years and may perhaps be up to 3,000 years old.
• Elephants have a special bond with baobab trees, eating their fruit and using it as a water source.
• The baobab tree thrives in its arid environment, storing water in its trunk and its flowers are pollinated by fruit bats.
• The tree provides shelter and food for a wide range of local wildlife.
• Commonly referred to as the 'Tree of Life' due to its many uses in producing food, medicine, food, fabric and cosmetics.
• The tree's bark, leaves, fruit, and seeds are all utilized in different ways, showcasing the versatility of the baobab tree