Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Amazing Baobabs Trees

Baobab Trees



Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island.
  
A typical common name is baobab. Other common names include boab, boaboa, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree.


Species
  
Young Adansonia digitata tree in Hyderabad, India Adansonia digitata L. – African Baobab (western, northeastern, central & southern Africa, and in Oman and Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, Asia)
 Adansonia grandidieri Baill. – Grandidier's Baobab (Madagascar)
 Adansonia gregorii F.Muell. (syn. A. gibbosa) – Boab or Australian Baobab (northwest Australia)
 Adansonia madagascariensis Baill. – Madagascar Baobab (Madagascar)
 Adansonia perrieri Capuron – Perrier's Baobab (North Madagascar)
 Adansonia rubrostipa Jum. & H.Perrier (syn. A. fony) – Fony Baobab (Madagascar)
 Adansonia suarezensis H.Perrier – Suarez Baobab (Diego Suarez, Madagascar)
 Adansonia za Baill. – Za Baobab (Madagascar)[5






Boab Adansonia gregorii in Australia




Avenue of the Baobabs




Also known as boab, boaboa, bottle tree and upside-down tree
Can be up to 800 years old
Reaching heights of 98 feet (30 m)
Diameters reaching up to 36 feet (11 m)
The Avenue of the Baobabs, also known as the Alley of Baobabs, is located in Madagascar but the tree may be experienced in several other parts of Africa. The largest baobab trees are considered to be in South Africa. These trees are reported to have a circumference of 160 feet (50 m).

More will follow on the Avenue of the Baobabs as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.



Baobabs trees reflected on water



There's also a bar!!!



The Sunland ‘Big Baobab’ is in Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo Province, South Africa and is famous internationally for being the widest of its species in the world. Africa is symbolised by these magnificent trees. The Sunland Big Baobab is carbon dated to be around 6000 years old. The Sunland Baobab has even made the front page of the Wall Street Journal!
 
When baobabs become a thousand years old, they begin to hollow inside. In the Big Baobab this has resulted in wonderful caverns and caves, where the world famous Baobab Tree Bar and Wine Cellar now amaze visitors. The tree bar can accommodate more than 60 people!



References