The baobab tree resembles an alien plant with its unusual shape and first appeared around 200 million years ago.
Belonging to the genus Adansonia, the baobab tree has eight distinct species distributed across Australia, Africa, southwestern Asia, and Madagascar. One hypothesis for the wide distribution of the baobab is that they existed before the supercontinent Pangea broke apart, according to IFL Science.
The baobab tree has a unique shape. (Photo: One Earth)
Except for the A. digitata species, the remaining baobab species are threatened to varying degrees, with A. perrieri being critically endangered. Scientists are working to better understand the genetic traits of the baobab tree to protect their future. They are sequencing the genomes of all eight species to explore the evolutionary history of the genus Adansonia, including origins, diversification, and examples of hybrid species. The research results reveal that the distribution of baobab trees is influenced by the temperature, altitude, and rainfall of their geographical region.
The unique growth patterns of the baobab tree contribute to their impressive longevity. Carbon dating analysis concludes that some of the oldest and largest trees develop natural hollow cavities between their trunks, known as pseudocavities. These hollow, round trunks can store significant amounts of water, helping the trees survive during dry seasons. The pseudocavities are large enough to accommodate a bar inside. Regarding longevity, baobab trees along the Lebombo ecological trail in Kruger National Park, South Africa, are estimated to be around 1,400 years old. Some researchers estimate that they can live up to 3,000 years. As they age, the trees will decay from the inside and eventually collapse.
The giant baobab tree, Adansonia grandidieri, grows along the Avenue of the Baobabs situated between the city of Morondava and the town of Belon’i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of Madagascar. They can reach heights of 25 to 30 meters. Some trees are tall and slender, while many others are stout with a trunk width greater than their height. With branches that twist like roots and a smooth, wide trunk, the baobab tree appears to be buried underground, earning it the nickname “upside-down tree,” especially when its leaves fall off during the dry season.
The baobab fruit can grow up to 30 cm long, featuring a hard shell and a soft, moist interior. According to the University of Michigan, it has a taste combining grape, pear, and vanilla, and is rich in vitamin C. Although it is a hermaphroditic species, studies show that the baobab tree cannot bear fruit without pollination. Since the flowers bloom at night, pollinators only have until the next morning to access them. The nectar attracts many pollinator species, including hawk moths and bats.
