The Baobab – Africa's Giant Upsidedown Tree , South Africa

• The Baobab – Africa's Giant Upsidedown Tree

There are eight kinds of Adansonia tree, but only a baobab tree (Adansonia digitata of), native to the African continent. Six of their relatives living in Madagascar, one in Australia. This is a tiny - and very unique family. Baobab tree itself, but small. This is the monster of the African jungle, a huge meat giant enveloped the acacia shrubs waving its Medusa-like branching above the corms body.

The baobab tree only grows in tropical Lowveld in South Africa - Limpopo Province, especially around Muxin Na in the Kruger National Park and the northern part of KwaZulu - Natal below 1000 m (3000 ft ). The oldest said is far more than 2000 years of history.

Sunland baobab
Baobab tree can reach a height of up to 30 meters (98 feet). The largest ever recorded, in South Africa, Limpopo, Glencoe, before it split in two diameter of 47 meters (154 feet). The largest presence now be considered is Sunland baobab tree, in telephone Modjadjiskloof, a height of 22m (72 feet), a diameter of 47 meters (154 feet). Due to tree trunks hollowed out portion of the fire, the owners turned into a bar and wine cellar. Carbon dating back about 6000 years, has a claim may be in the world's oldest surviving tree. Elsewhere hollow tree trunks are used as burial sites and trees have become sacred. In many places, the lasting towering trees become a symbol of the community, a meeting place.

Tree of Life
The baobab is very useful - so much so that Disney's The Lion King to name it as the tree of life. It acts like a giant juicy and up to 80% of the trunk is water. Three nomads rely on the tree when the rains failed as a valuable source of water and rivers dried up. A single tree can accommodate up to 4,500 liters (1,189 gallons). The bark and the flesh is soft, fibrous and fire-resistant, and can be used braided rope and cloth. It can also be used to manufacture soap, rubber, glue, and various drugs.

Fruit, it looks like the velvet gourd full of black seeds surrounded by a large pie cream, slightly powdery pulp. Over the years, the African eat the leaves and fruit, has also been called baobab. Now, it was hailed as a Westerner as a new super fruit. Said orange level 6 times the vitamin C as well as vitamin A, the amount of milk calcium twice, is filled with anti-oxidants, for example, iron and potassium. It is considered to be pro-biological, good digestion, brain and nerve function. The seeds can be roasted, the meat sliced ​​or diced and cooked in a variety of different ways. So far, however, the major pulp is used in the smoothie, as a thickener or sugar substitutes. In the United Kingdom, Whitley O'Neal add it to the gin!

There are many stories around the baobab tree tradition. The most common tree in smaller plants, and therefore offend God, uprooted it and planted it again to stop it upsidedown with tyrants. It still leaves each year only a very short time, if you look at its branches bare of leaves, it is easy to see the legend grew up.
The command "Tree of Life" is a South African National Medal, established in 2002, awarded to the outstanding contribution made by the citizens in the commercial and economic fields of science, medicine and technological innovation; community service. There are three levels.