Where does the baobab grow?

Baobab is a large deciduous tree of the genus baobab of the kapok family, also known as Bobab, sour gourd, etc., the fruit is as huge as football, sweet and juicy, and it is the favorite food for monkeys, orangutans, elephants and other animals. when the fruit is ripe, monkeys come in groups and climb the tree to pick fruit to eat. From this, let's take a look at where the baobab tree grows.

Where does the baobab grow?

Baobab is native to tropical Africa. In addition to Africa, Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands, baobab can also be seen in northern Australia. It is rarely cultivated in tropical areas of Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan. Baobab, as one of the ancient and unique tree species on the earth, is distributed in the African continent, parts of North America and Madagascar. Although baobab is not unique to Madagascar, there are still lots of baobabs in Madagascar in the world. One of the most common and common species, the African baobab, is found in the drier parts of the African continent, as well as in Yemen, Oman and the Arabian Peninsula.

The producing environment of baobab

Baobab is a temperature-loving tropical tree species, which can withstand the highest average temperature of 40 ℃ or more and the extreme minimum temperature of 0 ℃. Frost has a great impact on the tree. The average annual temperature in the natural distribution area is 20-30 ℃, and the drought tolerance is extremely strong. The average annual precipitation in the suitable growing area is 300-800 mm, and the growth is poor in hot and humid climates or more than 1000 mm precipitation. The common altitude is 450 to 600 meters above sea level, but it is 1000 to 1500 meters above sea level in Ethiopia and its marginal areas. Baobab is suitable for all types of soil, from clayey soil, sandy soil to all kinds of soil, but stony loam and latosol are the most common, and can grow well on acid-alkaline soil, sandy loam and fertile soil with good drainage.

Common species of baobab

1. Bottle tree: the bottle tree is the only kind of baobab found in Australia. It is generally not tall, about 5 to 15 meters long, but has a huge thick trunk with rich water (about 5 meters in diameter). Sometimes the trunks are still connected.

2. African baobab: African baobab can grow up to 25 meters tall, its water-filled trunk can reach 12 meters in diameter, and its huge flowers are yellow and white and give off a rotten stench. This kind of tree is usually pollinated by fruit bats or foxes, and the fruit contains a lot of trace elements, vitamins and nutrients, so it is often called "super fruit".

3. Grandil baobab: the Grandil baobab is one of the six native baobab trees in Madagascar. It has been listed as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is the largest tree species found in Madagascar, and its branches can grow up to 30 meters high. The Grandil baobab with grape gray smooth bark is relatively abundant in western Madagascar near Mulombe and Molendawa.

4. Madagascar baobabs: Madagascar baobabs look different from ordinary baobabs. They generally grow in dry or humid forests rather than typical shrub grasslands, and may not grow so dry. but these 5-to 20-meter-tall trees still stand out in the forest with their stout trunks, smooth bark and dark red flowers.

5. Pierre baobab: Pierre baobab has lost a large number of habitats due to agricultural development and has been listed as an "endangered species" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is perhaps the rarest baobab tree in Madagascar. There are only 10 known baobabs, which can grow up to 30 meters tall and produce fruits up to 30 centimeters long.

6. Finney baobab: the Finney baobab grows only in the dry deciduous forest of Madagascar and is the smallest member of the Malagasy baobab family. Few baobabs can reach a height of more than 20 meters. The average Finney baobab is only 4 to 5 meters tall. The bottle-shaped trunk benefits from the luxuriant branches and leaves above the trunk, and the flowers are bright yellow and orange in color.

7. Suarez baobab: Suarez baobab, which has white flowers, also grows in the northern part of Madagascar. But unlike the large number of Finney baobabs, Suarez baobab is listed as an "endangered species" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The large baobab can grow up to 25 meters tall and about 2 meters wide.

8. Boz baobab: Boz baobab is the most common baobab in Madagascar. Mature Boz baobab has smooth rose-brown bark, some of which can grow up to 40 meters tall. the fruit has a black skin and seeds with an oil content of up to 11%, the flower has yellow and red petals, and can emit a slightly sweet smell to attract its main pollinators (fruit bat and diamondback moth).