I had heard about them and seen a few in botanical gardens, but nothing prepares you for the trees just growing in abundance in Broome, a northern town in Western Australia
Adansonia gregorii, or commonly known as the boab, is a tree in the family Malvaceae. As with other baobabs, it is easily recognised by the swollen base of its trunk, which forms a massive caudex, giving the tree a bottle-like appearance.
The Australian boab is also related to the native to Madagascar (six species) and mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (one species). Boab ranges from 5 to 15 metres in height, usually between 9 and 12 metres, with a broad bottle-shaped trunk. Its trunk base may be extremely large; trunks with a diameter of over five metres have been recorded. A. gregorii is deciduous, losing its leaves during the dry winter period and producing new leaves and large white flowers between December and May.
There are many theories on how the African tree got to Australia or vice versa, but my theory after reading Gavin Menzies book 1421, is that the Chinese have something to do with it. But whether you believe that thought or not, the boab tree is definitely impressive in a hostile environment and its survival is nothing short of amazing.
Adansonia gregorii, or commonly known as the boab, is a tree in the family Malvaceae. As with other baobabs, it is easily recognised by the swollen base of its trunk, which forms a massive caudex, giving the tree a bottle-like appearance.
The Australian boab is also related to the native to Madagascar (six species) and mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (one species). Boab ranges from 5 to 15 metres in height, usually between 9 and 12 metres, with a broad bottle-shaped trunk. Its trunk base may be extremely large; trunks with a diameter of over five metres have been recorded. A. gregorii is deciduous, losing its leaves during the dry winter period and producing new leaves and large white flowers between December and May.
There are many theories on how the African tree got to Australia or vice versa, but my theory after reading Gavin Menzies book 1421, is that the Chinese have something to do with it. But whether you believe that thought or not, the boab tree is definitely impressive in a hostile environment and its survival is nothing short of amazing.
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