Baobab

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The baobab tree in Mannar.

Trees are a wonderful gift of nature that play a crucial role in the survival of all living beings on Earth. They give us life. Life on the planet will not be possible without trees.

There are many different kinds of trees in the environment. According to researchers, there are nearly 73,300 species of trees in the world. Out of them, not all are important or valuable but only a few. Some of them are important in many ways.

Some trees are revered by some communities in the world due to particular reasons. For instance, here in Sri Lanka, the Bo tree is of special significance to the Buddhists as it is commonly believed that our Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment under a Bo tree. The special Bo tree that we see in Anuradhapura sacred site by the name of Jaya Sirima Bodhi is regarded as one of the branches of the Bo tree under which the Buddha had sat down. So, that is how it came to be highly venerated.

Some other trees are regarded as extremely important, but they are very rare. The best example of this is the coconut tree, which is considered as a life-giving tree. Truly, it is the nation’s tree. The reason why this tree is this valuable is that every part of it is used for many different purposes.

Like this, there are lots of valuable trees in the world, but this article will dwell on a particular tree that has caught the attention of travellers.

Have you ever heard of a tree called ‘baobab’? Didn’t you know that they can be found here in Sri Lanka as well? If you have visited Mannar, a conserved baobab tree can be seen there and the other place where we can see one is on Delft Island. You may have seen them but may not know about this tree. It is indeed a tree with many mysteries that have recently been unravelled.

Amazing tree

The name ‘baobab’ derives from the Arabic word ‘buhihub’, which means trees of many seeds. The tree is called by many names, among them, calabash, cream of tartar, sour guard, monkey bread tree and elephant fruit tree. Here in Sri Lanka it is called ‘ali gaha’ (elephant tree) while Western visitors called them ‘botanical monster’ or ‘weird tree’.

Baobabs were first scientifically described by the French botanist Michel Adanson, who gave his name to the species – adansonia. It is such an amazing tree that it has become an iconic tree in the African savannah. It is also referred to as ‘tree of life’– a symbol of African cultures.

There are eight different species of baobab, out of which six of them are native to Madagascar and Africa. People there treat this tree with reverence. It is a highly revered tree in Madagascar, an island country situated in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Africa.

Thus it has become a sacred and mystical tree in Africa. Baobabs are said to have come to the African savannah and Madagascar from Arabia. These trees were first introduced to the island of Sri Lanka by Arab traders who arrived here from the Arabian Peninsula.

Baobabs are so massive in size. They look bizarre as they are nothing like any other species of trees and can grow up to 30m (98ft) in height and 11m (36ft) in diameter. The bark of the tree is smooth and gray, with a spongy texture that can be peeled off in strips and its thick branches spread out like roots. So, it is a tree with a unique appearance.

There are reasons why baobabs are like no other. They are a type of tree that grows well in arid zones where no other trees grow. We are well aware that Mannar in Sri Lanka is a very hot area and what we see mostly there are nothing but palmyrah trees in abundance. So, baobabs are considered among the hardiest of trees due to their ability to thrive in the most arid environments.

Lifespan

The baobab trees that we see in Mannar and Delft are many hundred years old. The general belief is that it can live for over a thousand years and is perhaps among the oldest living tree on the planet. So, they are known for their longevity. The oldest baobab tree is estimated to be over 2,000 years old and was found in South Africa.

All baobabs look like they have been turned upside down, with their roots reaching for the sky. Its branches do not widen extensively like the ‘nuga’ (banyan tree) or Bo trees and its grizzled trunk is so enormous with a hollow inside. The one at Delft Island has such a large hollow that it can accommodate at least 10 to 12 people in it. Some people are using this hollow as animal shelters and grain warehouses.

There are some mythical beliefs among African folklore associated with this tree. They believe that when a young boy is washed in water used to soak the baobab bark, he will grow into a big man. Another belief is that women living in kraals where baobabs are plentiful will have more and healthier children.

During the rainy season, a baobab tree has the ability of sucking large quantities of water into it thereby storing thousands of gallons of water. It is believed that it can store up to 120,000 litres of water. So, it is called the world’s largest long living succulent plant. The tree stores water so as to survive during a long period of drought. Also, this tree can survive for up to nine months during a drought. In African countries, wild elephants make holes on its trunk through their tusks for sap when there is a drought.

 

Just like every part of a coconut is useful to us, a baobab tree too provides people with everything. This tree is deciduous and when its leaves fall, it bears fruit that is edible. The fruit with a hard shell is said to be a superfood that is rich in nutrients including vitamin C, calcium and potassium and the fruit pulp is added to drinks and smoothies. The fruit is also high in fibre and antioxidants. It is eaten by people and animals as well in Africa. Some African people believe that drinking a root concoction of the tree promotes stoutness, a desirable virtue, in their culture.

The sturdy bark of the tree is used to make ropes and baskets while the roots are used to make red dye. Its leaves are rich in iron and are boiled and eaten like spinach.

The tree has some medicinal properties and is used for curing of ailments such as anaemia, microbial infections, toothache, fever, dysentery and malaria. The seeds are roasted to make a coffee substitute or pressed to make oil for cooking or cosmetics. The fruit pulp is said to have more than six times the vitamin C contained in oranges, making it an important nutritional supplement. Locally, fruit pulp is made into juice or jam or fermented to make beer. The young seedlings have a taproot that can be eaten like carrots. Baobab flowers are also edible.

The baobab tree is a marvellous creation of nature. It is a tree that is totally different from other species of trees due to its impressive size, unique shape and lifespan. The tree has played a vital role in African culture and history, providing food, shelter and even medicine to generations of people. So, it has become a sacred tree in Africa.