The baobab tree

A 

The baobab tree is an icon of the African continent. It can live for over a thousand years and is a vital source of food, water and shelter for indigenous peoples and wildlife alike. Given the tree's many practical uses, it is not surprising that the baobab features so prominently in traditional African folklore.

B 

The baobab is a prehistoric species which predates both mankind and the splitting of the continents over 200 million years ago. It belongs to the genus Adansonia, which contains nine species. These are found in the drier parts of Africa, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Of the nine species, six are native to Madagascar, two to mainland Africa and one to Australia. The African and Australian baobabs look very similar, even though they are not the same species. Baobabs grow in 32 African countries. In West Africa, the baobab's presence is often an indication of a human settlement nearby. The tree is most frequently found in dry, hot savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, where the climate is extremely arid and rainfall is seasonal.

C 

The baobab is a deciduous tree, which means that it loses its leaves during the dry season. It is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk. This water enables it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid. The trunk has a diameter of 10-14 metres and the tree has a height of 18-25 metres. The baobab tree is a strange looking tree that grows in low-lying areas in Africa. Its trunk is very wide and it has large white flowers that bloom at night. Its leaves are finger-like in shape. The baobab is a very versatile tree. Its leaves, bark, fruit and trunk are all useful to humans and animals.

D 

The baobab's fruit is large and oval-shaped and it contains a mass of seeds. It is a rich source of vitamin C and its pulp can be used to make a refreshing drink. The pulp can also be used to treat fever, diarrhoea and malaria. The pulp can be stored until it is needed. The seeds of the fruit can be used to produce oil. This oil is used to protect the skin and it is also used in the cosmetic industry. The leaves of the baobab are also useful. They can be eaten fresh or they can be dried and stored. They are rich in iron and can be used as a medicine. The leaves can be used to treat asthma, insect bites and several other ailments. The leaves can also be used as a sauce for food. The bark of the baobab is also useful. It can be used to make cloth and rope. The bark can also be used to make musical instruments, waterproof hats and fishing lines. The bark has also been used to protect young plants from animals. The bark of the baobab is also used to treat fever. The trunk of the baobab is very wide and it can be used as a shelter. It is also used for storage and it can also be used as a source of water in dry periods. The baobab can also be used to make a variety of things such as musical instruments, handcrafts, pots to grow plants in, and many other useful items. The tree also provides shade for animals and humans. The tree is also a source of fuel and is used as a firebreak as well.

E 

The baobab is also known as the 'tree of life' because it can provide shelter, clothing, food, and water for the animal and human inhabitants of the African savannah regions. The tree is also an important source of food for many different creatures such as insects and animals. The flowers provide food for fruit bats, which play an important role in pollinating the flowers. The seeds are eaten by various mammals such as baboons, monkeys and warthogs. Elephants and eland eat the bark of the baobab tree. The flowers provide food for birds, bees and other insects. The baobab tree is home to snakes and tree frogs. The tree is also home to bush babies, which feed on the flowers. The tree is also home to birds such as the mottled spinetail, the grey-headed parrot and the mottled swift. The tree is also host to the African honey bee.

F 

The baobab tree is under threat because of the increasing human population. The trees are being cut down for their bark, which is used to make rope, mats and baskets. The trees are also being cut down to make way for farmland. The baobab is also under threat from climate change.