Baobab Trees

Baobab trees are some of the biggest and oldest trees in the world. They grow in Africa, Australia, and a few other warm places. Their trunks are so thick that it can take many people holding hands to reach around one. Baobabs are often called the tree of life because they help so many animals.

A Tree Full of Water

Baobab trees store water inside their huge trunks. Some trees can hold up to 32,000 gallons of water. This helps them stay alive during long dry seasons. Elephants and other animals sometimes chew on the bark to get a drink. The tree can grow back the bark it loses.

Food for Everyone

Baobab trees make a fruit that people and animals love to eat. The fruit has a hard shell with a tangy white powder inside. The leaves can be cooked like spinach. Monkeys love to eat the fruit, which is why some people call it the monkey bread tree. Birds, bats, and insects visit the flowers.

Fun Facts

• Some baobab trees are more than 2,000 years old.
• Their flowers only open at night and are pollinated by bats.
• A baobab tree's trunk can grow to be 30 feet wide.

Did You Know?

There is an old African story that says the gods planted baobab trees upside down, which is why the branches look like roots.