Baobab

 Baobab is world’s largest succulent tree, belongs to silk cotton family. Scientific term is Adansonia digitata.

Baobab is generally found in Central Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Also seen in some parts of India, Sri Lanka, Barbados and Hawai.

Baobab prefers drier, less tropical climate. These trees are sensitive to frost and water logging.
It has massive trunk which holds large amount of water during the dry period.

They drop the leaves periodically and produce new foliage shortly before the rainy season . Without the leaves, the crown looks like a root system. Hence Baobab is also called as upside down tree.

At first they have simple elliptic leaves. Much later, hand shaped leaves with 5-9 leafllets are also developed.

Large white flowers are found hanging from long stalks. It has an unpleasant smell . The flowers opens at night and are pollinated by fruit bats.
Flowering starts only after 15 years. Thus It takes 15 to 20 years to fruit. Fruits are grey coloured,  gourd like and edible. Fruits are a foot long and found hanging from the branches. So it is also known as ‘monkey bread’. White fruit pulp is highly nutritious. Cream of tartar is produced from the acidic seed pulp.

Leaves,flowers and fruits are used for medicinal purposes. Hence Baobab trees are also   called as ‘Tree of life’ or ‘Kalpavriksh’. The bark is used for making paper, cloth and rope.

Baobab is a long living tree, lives up to 1000 years.