The Baobab is a kind of tree … but a very unique one. Among the millions of species of trees on the planet, there is nothing quite like the Baobab.
In the cultures which evolved in locations where the Baobab grows, it is not just a tree, but a sacred link to the past and an essential part of the cultures where it grows, a symbol of strength, wisdom, health, long life, and beauty.
THE AFRICAN UPSIDE-DOWN TREE
In the cultures which evolved in locations where the Baobab grows, it is not just a tree, but a sacred link to the past and an essential part of the cultures where it grows, a symbol of strength, wisdom, health, long life, and beauty.
THE AFRICAN UPSIDE-DOWN TREE
Of the eight species of the genus Adansonia – You really needed to know that, right? -- six are native to Madagascar, one to the African and Arab peninsula, and one to Australia. They can live to be thousands of years old and have a peculiar, massive, bottle-shaped trunk and sparse foliage. The branches look like spread out like roots, hence the names "upside-down tree".
Every part of the tree can be used, which the primary reason it is called the tree of life. It's fruit, bark, roots, and wood provide innumerable products used by the native African peoples for thousands of years. Food, red dye, Vitamin C, medicine, rope and strings for musical instruments. Canoes are carved from the wood. The list goes on and on.
AND A PARTRIDGE IN A BAOBAB TREE
Just to tie this blog in with the season, the Baobab in southern Africa has, to some extent, replaced the pine Christmas tree in shopping centers and home decorations.
Every part of the tree can be used, which the primary reason it is called the tree of life. It's fruit, bark, roots, and wood provide innumerable products used by the native African peoples for thousands of years. Food, red dye, Vitamin C, medicine, rope and strings for musical instruments. Canoes are carved from the wood. The list goes on and on.
AND A PARTRIDGE IN A BAOBAB TREE
Just to tie this blog in with the season, the Baobab in southern Africa has, to some extent, replaced the pine Christmas tree in shopping centers and home decorations.
THE LEGEND
Africa abounds with legends about the baobab. According to Baobab.com, this is one of the most common.
Africa abounds with legends about the baobab. According to Baobab.com, this is one of the most common.
"A very, very long time ago, say some African legends, the first baobab sprouted beside a small lake. As it grew taller and looked about, it spied other trees and noted their colorful flowers, straight and handsome trunks, and large leaves. Then one day, the wind died away leaving the water smooth as a mirror, and the tree finally got to see itself. The reflected imaged shocked it to its root hairs. Its own flowers lacked bright color, its leaves were tiny, it was grossly fat, and its bark resembled the wrinkled hide of an old elephant.
In a strongly worded invocation to the creator, the baobab complained about the bad deal it'd been given. This impertinence had no effect: Following a hasty reconsideration, the deity felt fully satisfied. Relishing the fact that some organisms were purposefully less than perfect, the creator demanded to know whether the baobab found the hippopotamus beautiful, or the hyena's cry pleasant, and then retired in a huff behind the clouds.
But back on earth, the barrel-chested whiner neither stopped peering at its reflection nor raising its voice in protest. Finally, an exasperated creator returned from the sky, seized the ingrate by the trunk, yanked it from the ground, turned it over, and replanted it upside-down.
And from that day since, the baobab has been unable to see its reflection or make complaint. For thousands of years, it has worked strictly in silence, paying off its ancient transgression by doing good deed for people."
In a strongly worded invocation to the creator, the baobab complained about the bad deal it'd been given. This impertinence had no effect: Following a hasty reconsideration, the deity felt fully satisfied. Relishing the fact that some organisms were purposefully less than perfect, the creator demanded to know whether the baobab found the hippopotamus beautiful, or the hyena's cry pleasant, and then retired in a huff behind the clouds.
But back on earth, the barrel-chested whiner neither stopped peering at its reflection nor raising its voice in protest. Finally, an exasperated creator returned from the sky, seized the ingrate by the trunk, yanked it from the ground, turned it over, and replanted it upside-down.
And from that day since, the baobab has been unable to see its reflection or make complaint. For thousands of years, it has worked strictly in silence, paying off its ancient transgression by doing good deed for people."
The above left baobab (Zimbabwe) shows the shape that generated the name upside-down tree. Most are small to moderate sized, but they can develop a huge trunk, as in the next photo. These are mostly hollow, big enough to use for housing, chapels, barns, shops, bus shelters, post boxes, burial sites, wells, flush lavatories, and prisons. In Queensland, Australia, one served as the town prison.
Most of the trunks I saw weren't anywhere the girth of the tree in the photo above, and some of the African baobab don't get that tall. I took the photo on the right in the rainforest next to Victoria Falls.
IT'S DIFFERENT IN MADAGASCAR
There are six different species of baobab tree, some of which are very different from their African neighbors. Take a look at the photos of the below of the Giant Madagascar Baobab, and you'll understand my apology. This is where the 90 to 100 feet in height kicks in.
There are six different species of baobab tree, some of which are very different than the African variety. Take a look at the photos and you'll understand my apology. This is where the 90 to 100 feet in height kicks in. Below are Giant Madagascar Baobab.
Most of the trunks I saw weren't anywhere the girth of the tree in the photo above, and some of the African baobab don't get that tall. I took the photo on the right in the rainforest next to Victoria Falls.
IT'S DIFFERENT IN MADAGASCAR
There are six different species of baobab tree, some of which are very different from their African neighbors. Take a look at the photos of the below of the Giant Madagascar Baobab, and you'll understand my apology. This is where the 90 to 100 feet in height kicks in.
There are six different species of baobab tree, some of which are very different than the African variety. Take a look at the photos and you'll understand my apology. This is where the 90 to 100 feet in height kicks in. Below are Giant Madagascar Baobab.
Some of the shorter species account for the name "bottle tree" because of the shape and appearance of the trunk but, in fact, because the hollowed trunks, they serve as water reservoirs during dry spells. They can store up to 32,000 gallons.
All species have trunks which are mostly hollow and rely on a system of hydraulic pressure to stay upright. The wood is porous and retains water, the extensive root system remains close to the surface for better water absorption.
All species have trunks which are mostly hollow and rely on a system of hydraulic pressure to stay upright. The wood is porous and retains water, the extensive root system remains close to the surface for better water absorption.
They look otherworldly, don't they? Maybe Madagascar should go on my bucket list.
Resources
http://amazinglist.net/2013/03/baobab-tree-adansonia-gregorii/http://baobab-tree-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/antioxidant-baobab.html
http://baobab-tree-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/legends-of-baobab-tree.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8219711_baobab-tree.html
http://www.baobab.com/baobab-fruit-pulp/legends-of-the-baobab-tree/
http://www.baobab.com/baobab-fruit-pulp/the-baobab-tree-in-african-landscape/
http://www.baobabppc.org.za/home/item/1-myths-legends
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977821078
Resources
http://amazinglist.net/2013/03/baobab-tree-adansonia-gregorii/http://baobab-tree-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/antioxidant-baobab.html
http://baobab-tree-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/legends-of-baobab-tree.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8219711_baobab-tree.html
http://www.baobab.com/baobab-fruit-pulp/legends-of-the-baobab-tree/
http://www.baobab.com/baobab-fruit-pulp/the-baobab-tree-in-african-landscape/
http://www.baobabppc.org.za/home/item/1-myths-legends
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977821078
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