The large white flowers of the baobab tree hang from the branches on long stalks. Huge, fluffy petals and a large bunch of stamens give the flowers of the baobab tree an exotic, pompous look. Learn more about baobab plants and their unusual flowers in this article.
About African Baobab Trees
Native to the African savanna, the baobab is best suited to warm climates. The trees are also grown in Australia and occasionally in large open areas and gardens in Florida and parts of the Caribbean.
The general shape of the tree is unusual. The trunk, which can reach 30 feet (9 m) in diameter, has soft wood that is often attacked by fungi and becomes hollow. Once a tree is hollowed out, it can be used as a meeting place or as a dwelling. The inner part of the tree has also been used as gel in Australia. Baobab can live for thousands of years.
The branches are short, thick and twisted. African folklore holds that the unusual structure of the branches is the result of the tree's constant complaint that it lacks many of the attractive features of other trees. Satan pulled the tree out of the ground and pushed it head first, exposing its tangled roots.
Plus, its exotic appearance made the tree perfect for the role of the Tree of Life in the Disney movie, The Lion King. Opening the baobab tree is another story.
Flowers of Baobab Tree
You can think of the African baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) as a selfish plant, with flowering patterns that suit themselves, but not people's desires. For one thing, baobab flowers stink. This, combined with their tendency to only bloom at night, makes it difficult for humans to enjoy baobab flowers.
On the other hand, bats find the blooming cycles of baobab flowers to fit in well with their lifestyle. Attracted to the stench, these nocturnal feeding mammals use this feature to find African baobab trees to feed on the nectar produced by the flowers. In return for this nourishing treat, the bats serve the trees by pollinating the flowers.
The baobab tree's flowers are followed by large, gourd-like fruits covered in gray fur. The shape of the fruit is said to resemble dead mice suspended by their tails. It has given rise to the nickname "Dead Rat Tree".
This tree is also known as the "tree of life" due to its nutritional benefits. People, as well as many animals, enjoy the starchy pulp that tastes like gingerbread.
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