Tarangire National Park, Tanzania - Baobab is the common name of a genus (Adansonia) containing eight species of trees, native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia. The species reach heights of between 5?25 m (exceptionally 30 m) tall, and up to 7 m (exceptionally 11 m) in trunk diameter. They are noted for storing water inside the swollen trunk, with the capacity to store up to 120,000 litres of water to endure the harsh drought conditions particular to each region. Because of this, it is common for elephants to rip apart the bark with their tusks to eat the moist wood.
Because of its unusual appearance, there are numerous legends surrounding the baobab. African lore states that after creation, each of the animals was given a tree to plant and the hyena planted the baobab upside-down. Another legend states:
"The baobab was among the first trees to appear on the land. Next came the slender, graceful palm tree. When the baobab saw the palm tree, it cried out that it wanted to be taller. Then the beautiful flame tree appeared with its red flower and the baobab was envious for flower blossoms. When the baobab saw the magnificent fig tree, it prayed for fruit as well. The gods became angry with the tree and pulled it up by its roots, then replanted it upside down to keep it quiet."
All species of Adansonia grow in seasonally arid areas, and are deciduous, shedding their leaves during the dry season. Some are reputed to be many thousands of years old, though as the wood does not produce annual growth rings, this is difficult to verify; few botanists give any credence to these claims of extreme age.
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