Beautiful baobab trees – interesting facts and pictures

5/4/2020

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Geography Story: Beautiful baobab trees – interesting facts and pictures

These majestic giants are subjects of many legends and one of the most recognizable symbols of the African continent. Let's learn more about them with these 5 baobab tree facts.

Some trivia:

baobabs are all trees belonging to the genus Adansonia;
there are 9 different species;
one species is native to Australia, while others grow in Madagascar and mainland Africa;
at the beginning of the 21st century, African baobabs started rapidly dying, and the reason is still unknown.

#1 Many large baobabs live to be more than a thousand years old

Geography Story: Baobab tree age — shutterstock

The oldest flowering plant ever documented was a baobab – it was around 2,450 years old when it died in 2011.

#2 Baobabs' enormous trunks have been used as pubs, jails, chapels and post offices

Geography Story: Baobab tree size — wikimedia CC BY wikimedia CC BY

The size of these trees allowed people to use them in many creative ways. Baobabs can be 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) high and their trunks have diameters of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft).

If you enjoy these baobab tree facts, take a look at these incredible trivia facts about Africa.

#3 Eating the baobab fruit and leaves has many health benefits

The baobab fruit weighs about 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), has a velvety shell and tart pulp which tastes like sorbet with a citrus flavor. The fruit contains a great amount of vitamin C, calcium, potassium and iron. Young baobab leaves are used in salads, soups and drinks.

Take this funny personality quiz to see which tree best describes the real you!

#4 Baobab flowers open at night and fall within 24 hours

Their main pollinators are several species of fruit bat.

#5 Their trunks can hold thousands of litres of water

Geography Story: Baobab tree trunks water — wikipedia CC BY-SA

That's why many animals eat baobab bark to maintain water balance.

Have you ever seen a baobab with your own eyes? Do you know any other interesting baobab tree facts?

To challenge yourself and check your general knowledge take these fun trivia quizzes and answer trivia questions.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

14 Comments

ninakamwene

I am a native of Kenya and we do not have them, however; the story children are told is that Mama Gaea gave the hyena the baby tree to plant but since he is a careless animal, he planted it with the roots on top and that is why the Baobab looks like it is upside down. This majestic tree like the elephant holds our energy on the earth, and as they go so do we. At least that is what most Africans are taught to revere both and thank them for holding our energy.