Vine's Flora Friday: Baobab Tree

The boabab tree is probably the most interesting and intriguing species of tree in the world. It is by far my favorite tree.

There are nine different species of baobab, which are native to Madagascar, Africa, Australia and the Arabian Peninsula.

But their shape is by far their most interesting feature. Usually, their trunk is a tall, smooth cylinder, reaching about 100 feet. The branches can only be found at the top, where they grow out somewhat parallel to the ground. Sometimes baobab trunks are hollow, and the crescent shaped branches act like chutes catching precious rain which runs down the branches and is stored in the hollow trunks. Natives of Africa use this to their advantage so they can have a steady supply of water, up to 32,000 gallons, during dry periods.

In addition to these remarkable features, the fruit produced by baobab trees is not only edible, but tasty! It is reported to taste like grapefruit, pear and vanilla all in one. African natives use this fruit as a food source, which provides carbohydrates, vitamin C and many other vitamins. However, the fruit is not the only edible part. The leaves can be prepared like spinach, young tree sprouts can be eaten like asparagus, and the seed can somewhat replace coffee beans.

Someday, I'd really like to try some baobab fruit, but until then, keep checking this cool blog!