Baobab

The survivor’s tree has many uses

- Paul Donovan

If you found yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, you would be hard-pressed to find in one place all the elements you require to survive. You have to go hunting for them. That is, of course, unless you find yourself in the proximity of Adansonia, the Baobab tree. In my view, this tree is a living survival kit, as it can help you out in so many ways.

Sometimes known as the ‘upside-down tree’, the Baobab is synonymous with Africa. It can reach 30m in height, with a circumference in excess of 28m, and live for several thousand years.

Water

During the dry season, the baobab survives on the water it stores in its fleshy branches and trunk. A small tree can store perhaps 10 or 20 litres, but one of the true giants can hold up to 100 000 litres. By tapping into various parts of the tree, from the trunk to the roots, it is possible to obtain a source of drinking water. The tree is essentially like a living standpipe. During the rainy season, the gigantic root system acts like a sponge, sucking up water and then delivering it to the very ends of its springy, sponge-like branches. Rain also collects in the clefts of the large branches, and can provide another valuable source of water.

Food