Another post from guest author, Cindy Faber.
The majestic baobab tree is an icon of the African continent and lies at the heart of traditional African folklore. Baobab trees grow in some of the driest, remotest and poorest parts of rural Africa. There is no such thing as a baobab plantation; every tree is community or family owned and wild-harvested.
The majestic baobab tree is an icon of the African continent and lies at the heart of traditional African folklore. Baobab trees grow in some of the driest, remotest and poorest parts of rural Africa. There is no such thing as a baobab plantation; every tree is community or family owned and wild-harvested.
They
can live for up to 5,000 years and can grow to a huge 50 meters (approximately 164ft.) in
circumference and the trunk can hold up to 4500 liters (approximately 1188
gallons) of fresh water, which is enough for 100 showers or 10,000 glasses of
water.
The
baobab is an intrinsic part of the culture for many African nations. Legend has
it that a mighty god had a baobab within his gardens in paradise. He grew
annoyed with the baobab arrogantly displaying its beautiful foliage and flung
it from paradise to the earth below. It landed upside down, with its roots
jutting into the sky and its beautiful foliage buried beneath the earth. This
taught the tree and those who witnessed it humility, and this is why it’s also known
as the upside down tree.[i]
While
many people know of the baobab tree, not many people know that it has a fruit.
Baobab is the only fruit in the world that dries naturally on its branch.
Instead of dropping and spoiling, it stays on the branch and bakes in the sun
for 6 months - transforming its green velvety coating into a hard
coconut-like shell.
[i] https://www.treeaid.org.uk/baobab-tree-life/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA05zhBRCMARIsACKDWjd29m0_EsZ1r7Oop5IZKtG6QmHTzrOPwAaDLft--3vqfLXYKjKkv8caAjHlEALw_wcB
