What is a Baobab?

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What is a Baobab?
A baobab is a specie of tree that belongs to the Adansonia family. The term “baobab” is the term used to describe trees that belong to this group which is actually composed of eight species. Most people consider the baobab tree as native to Africa. This is generally true since six of the eight species are native to Africa while the other two is native to Australia and the Arabian Peninsula. Besides “baobab”, this deciduous tree is also called “boaboa”, “monkey-bread tree”, “upside-down tree”, or “bottle tree”. These names are given to the tree because of its appearance. The branches are said to appear like roots making it look “upside down”.

Baobab trees typically grow from 5 to 30 meters. These trees are massive when it comes to size with trunk diameters reaching up to 15 meters. This tree is considered an old or ancient tree owing to its resilience to harsh climates and conditions. Baobabs are known to survive extreme heat with little amounts of water. With its massive size, these trees are said to be able to store hundreds of liters of water which help them survive during severe summers and droughts. This tree is unique though in the sense that its bark doesn’t produce growth rings annually. These growth rings are the indicators of the trees age and so the age of baobab trees could not be determined by this process.

Baobab trees also have many uses owing to its large size. Its leaves are harvested as vegetables and its fruits are eaten by many for their high vitamin C content. The seeds on the fruit also serve as thickening agents for soups and broths. Or, as some people prefer, these seeds may also be roasted for direct consumption. A softdrink company even made a variant with the baobab fruit as part of the citrus flavoring.

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