A new study has uncovered the origins of baobabs trees which are famously spotted on the island of Madagascar.
- The study titled ‘The rise of baobab trees in Madagascar’ was published in the journal Nature on May 15.
- The study says that three Madagascar species of the baobab trees are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- According to DNA studies, the iconic trees first arose in Madagascar 21 million years ago. Their seeds were later carried on ocean currents to Australia and also to mainland Africa, evolving into distinct species.
About Baobabs
- Also known as “mother of the forest”, other species of the trees are native to Africa and Australia.
- Baobabs are known for their great heights, with some extending up to 50 metres, and exceptionally long lifespans going upto 2,000 years.
- In India too, a few baobab trees exist, including one near the Golconda Fort in Andhra Pradesh that is believed to be more than 400 years old.
- The trees have trunks with large circumferences and thin, spindly branches. In local cultures, the trees are also revered because of the multiple uses their parts have, with the fruits and seeds being edible, the seed oil used for cooking and the bark fibre for clothing.
- They are also called “upside down” trees because of their tops resembling an uprooted plant turned upside down.
- The trees belong to the genus Adansonia, which comprises eight distinct species: Adansonia digitata found in continental Africa, Adansonia gregorii in Northwestern Australia, and six other species endemic to Madagascar.
