Baobab Tree: 12 April 2024

• About: The baobab tree, also known as the upside-down tree, belongs to the Adansonia genus within the Malvaceae family, subfamily Bombacoideae
• Distribution:
  •  Nine species of baobab trees exist, with two native to mainland Africa, six to Madagascar, and one to Australia. 
  • Mandu, in Madhya Pradesh, India, is a notable area where baobabs thrive.

• Features:

• Baobabs are characterized by their longevity, with some living for thousands of years.

• They possess massive, bottle-shaped or cylindrical trunks with faint growth rings and compact tops.

• The fruit of the baobab tree is highly nutritious and either round or oval-shaped.

• It is renowned as the ‘Tree of Life’.

Why in News:

• Recently, the Global Society for the Preservation of Baobabs and Mangroves (GSPBM) has initiated a mission to rejuvenate the iconic baobab trees.