Baobab: A Tree of Life

A 2000 year old Baobab tree at Saadani village, Tanzania, Africa

If we think of something longest living on this mother earth, a single name surfaces in our minds that is Baobab tree. Its scientific name is Adansonia Digitata, named after Michel Adanson, the French botanist who first identified the specie in Senegal, Africa (1750 CE). 

Subpecies of Adnansonia Digitata, Australia (Source: Internet)

In its lifetime, a baobab tree witnesses several centuries, standing still at one place. It has an extra-ordinary lifespan of 1500-2000 years! One baobab tree in Namibia has been found to be 1275 years old, through C-14 dating process. Some tree can grow very tall, up to 60 feet while the diameter of the trunk may be as large as 30 feet. But there are bigger specimens as well.

The botanical giant at Saadani, Tanzania

The look of the tree is very unusual - an elongated barrel-like bulbous trunk (bottle-shaped or cylindrical) with branching off at the top to form canopy. The trunk is very wide and swollen, devoid of branching and foliage mostly at the top. Its flowers bloom only at night.

The overall crazy look, extra-ordinary longevity and several benefits that it offers to mankind and wildlife, makes it special. In several geographic regions of the world, they command respect from local culture and religious beliefs. Why baobab tree is important to earth?

The enormous trunk (Saadani, Tanzania)

Local people use almost every part of the tree for some purpose or other. Its fruits, leaves, seeds, roots, bark etc., are sources of food for not only humans but also various wildlife. The strong fibre of the bark is converted into rope and cloth. Its oil has medicinal value. In arid and dry zone, a baobab tree is a natural reserve of water. A typical tree is a storehouse of about 1200 gallons of water. It is rightly called Tree of Life.

Issued by Madagascar Post (Source: Internet)

Source: Social media

Today, there are nine known species of baobab tree - two are endemic of Africa, six are endemic to Madagascar and one is endemic to northwestern Australia. 

By Australia Post (Source: Internet)

In Africa, giant baobab trees are found in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique etc. Total 33 countries (Africa has 54 countries) of western and central African countries, have the baobab trees. Besides the continents of Africa and Australia, it is found across Barbados, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, including India. The baobab is a feature in postage stamps of the countries where they are found in abundance. 

A beautiful emission by French Post (Source: Internet)

The tree has several names. Because of its branch sprouting from the top, it is called ‘Upside down tree’ or the tree that fell from the heavens. The seeds have high content of vitamin C, which has earned the Lemonade tree name. In Tanzania, Africa in Swahili language, its name is Ubuyu.  Ubuyu, the baobab fruits are especially enjoyed by the local children. The ubuyu experience is enjoyed while sucking the dyed red baobab seeds that have been boiled and coated in a lavish mix of sugar, salt, black pepper, cardamom, and vanilla. 

An endemic to Tanzania (Location: Bagamoyo, Tanzania)

Believe me, baobab trees, though not native of India, are found in many places in the country. They are still growing in places of Bihar, Jharkhand, Goa, Gujarat (Kutch, Kathiawar etc.), Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nādu etc. Now, a pertinent question is how these botanical giants have arrived in India?

Another botanical giant at Bagamoyo, Tanzania

The first theory is that the seeds or pods of baobab might have floated and drifted from African coastline to Indian shore. The second one makes sense that these plants have arrived in India, courtesy sailors, tradesmen, militia etc., of bygone era. The pods of baobab are rich in vitamins and proteins. They are lightweight and convenient to carry for long journey and fit for prolonged storage. Thus, we may conclude that the pods of baobab have been brought to India by human travellers from outside. There is a third angle as well. Millions of years ago, the collision in Gondwanaland has created today's Australia, India and Madagascar. They have certain similar geographical characteristics. Could that be a reason too?

Baobab from Barbados Post (Source: Internet)

In India, baobab is known by different names in different regions. In Hindu mythology, it has been referred as Kalpavriksh, Kalptaru, Parijaat, Manokamna purti, Ikchha purti or a Wish fulfilling tree. 

From India Post

A se-tenant pair of two stamps on Parijat tree was issued by India Post on 08 March 1997. One stamp depicts the the wide trunk of the Baobab tree and other other stamp has an image of its flowers. 

In Sanskrit, it was referred as Chitrala. A lone, a wish bearing baobab tree stands with religious punctuation in the village called Kintoor, near Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India. 

Baobab aka Kalpbriksh at Kintur (Courtesy: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227352.g004)

A Carbon-14 dating conducted in 2019, has given the calibrated age as 775+/- 25 calendar years. According to local folklore, the said tree is known as Parijaat which has grown from the ashes of Kunti, mother of Pandavas of epic Mahabharat, in that place. There are other legends about the tree with different celestial connections. Local people gather to worship the tree, newlyweds’ prey for blessing and a village fair is held every Tuesday near the tree.

In India, another old Baobab tree survives inside Naya Qila (New Fort) near Golkonda Fort, Hyderabad. The diameter of the trunk, at the base, is approximately 25 meter. 

"There's a concealed room in this trunk with space 25-30 people. ...during an attack on the fort, around 20 members of the royal family hid in this room. The entrance, located at the top, allowed entry into a adrk room where a platform-like structure made of stone hinted at makeshift cooking during those days." (Source: Times of India, 31 March 2024).

Her Excellency and baobab (Bechuanaland Protectorate is today's Botswana): Source: Internet

His Excellency with Baobab and Buffalo (Source: Internet)

Emission by Botswana Post (Source: Internet)

There are other Indian names for baobab tree in India. Because of its sour taste (high vitamin C content), it has been related to imli or tamarind in Indian languages. In Hindi, it is called Gorak-amli. It is Aane hunase in Kannada, Aanipuliya maram in Tamil, Brahma malika in Telegu.

Baobab and Botswana Post (Source: Internet)

In central India, Mandu or Mandavgarh (Dhar district) is an ancient city, located in Malwa and Nimar region of western Madhya Pradesh. According to horticulture department of the state, it has more than 1000 baobab trees in the state. Possibly the largest cluster of baobabs in India is available there. It's fruits are called Mandu ki Imli (tamrind of Mandu) or Khorasani imli. It was brought to the region during the reign of Mahmud Khilji in the 14th century. Thus, the name has been attached to Khorasan (region covering present day Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan). 

Indore is another city of Madhya Pradesh. In the compound of Indian Institute of Management, Indore there are three baobab trees.

Beautiful design (Source: Internet)

A bizarre case of taking away of a dozen of baobab trees from the local tribals (Bhils) came to light in June 2022 from Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, India. There was big protest from residents when they found and stopped trucks loaded with baobab trees to be transported from their locality to a proposed commercial botanical garden at outskirts of Hyderabad, nearly 1000 kilometre away. The protesting villagers were subsequently pacified by the intervening civil administration and baobab trees commenced their journey from central India to southern India! In 2023, the state has applied for its Geographical Index (GI) tag.

In Orchha, Madhya Pradesh there is an enormously large baobab tree which was planted by Maharaja Bir Singh Deo (1605-1626/7), the Bundela Rajput king of Orchha. The great ruler was credited of building forts of Datia, Jhansi and temples at Mathura, Varanasi etc.

Baobab provides food and shelter to wildlife (source: Internet)

From central India, let us have a look at eastern India. A very old Baobab tree is standing tall in the campus of Langat Singh College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. There are a few baobab trees near Doranda College, Ranchi, Jharkhand. However, sometime back two of them were cut down when there was requirement of widening the road. 

Baobab and message of conservation (Source: Internet)

In the western part of India, Udvada, Pardi taluka, Valsad district, Gujarat is a coastal town. There exists a Baobab tree near the coast. There are eight Baobab trees near Vadodara, Gujarat. In Mumbai, Maharashtra there is one big baobab tree in the heart of the city, near the entrance of Rani Bagh. A few more baobab trees are there within SEEPZ area, Andheri locality of Mumbai. In the premises of Governor's house  in Mumbai there is another big baobab tree.

A very large baobab tree exists at Nagoa beach of Diu Island. 

Southern Rhodesia is present day Zimbabwe (Source: Internet)

In southern part of India, there are places where baobabs are sighted. In Chennai, there is a very large baobab tree at the Theosophical Society in Adyar. The society was established by Madame Blavatsky, the Russian psychic. 

Northern Rhodesia got independence in 1966, became Zambia (Source: Internet)

In Hyderabad, Telangana State, near Golconda fort there is a giant baobab tree which is known as Hathion ka ped (the Elephantine tree). About 10 to 15 trees existing in Hyderabad, near Quthbullapur Municipal office (HMT) Balanagar, and Narsing, Tolichowki area. One can find five baobabs in Pondicherry town.

Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980 (Source: Internet)

As baobabs grow, with the progress of their age, they hollow out inside. Its hollow trunk provides resting space to the travellers. Some of the trunks have served as stables for animals, burial sites and even as prison! And a bar!! 

Baobab dominated stamps of Zimbabwe, pre and post independence (Source: Internet)

In the hollowed trunk of a very old baobab tree, there was a bar. The particular gigantic baobab tree was located in South Africa. In 2009, the department of chemistry, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania estimated the age of that baobab to be 6000 years. The height of the baobab was about 75 feet and the circumference was of more than 108 feet. By some natural process, the trunk of the tree was split into two divisions yet remained conjoint through a passage. Over a period of time, its trunk hollowed within. Since 1933, people started using the hollowed space inside as a small pub. At a later date, the Heather and Doug Van Heerden of Sunland Farm took lease and created a formal bar within its hollow core space. 

Pub inside of the then Pub Tree (Courtesy: amusingplanet.com)

In the tourist circuit, it earned fame as Sunland Baobab Tree, or precisely Pub Tree, a must-see destination in Limpopo province of South Africa. It had a seating capacity of fifteen persons. The inside ceiling of the bar was at 13 feet. Draft beer, accompanied by music was served to the guests. Out of two parts of the trunk, one trunk collapsed in 2016. In March 2019, the Van Heerdens announced the shutting down of popular tourist baobab bar forever. 

Baobab seed oil is a natural skincare and haircare, moisturiser and insect repellent!

But baobab is also a type of crude petroleum oil. Baobab crude oil has a worldwide market due to its ability to remain in liquid state, without freezing, even at (-) 40 degree celsius! Baobab oil field is an ultra-deep-water basin, located at about 25 km off the coast of Cote d' Ivorie (formerly Ivory Coast) at a water depth of 900-1,500 meter. The oil field was discovered in March 2001 and Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) started development work in 2003. The commercial production commenced in August 2005. It produces both crude petroleum oil and natural gas.

Baobab trees are living witnesses of evolving civilisation, have seen rise and fall of several dynasties, etc., yet remained mute spectators. Wish they could speak and throw some light about our lives on earth, several centuries ago.

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The story was published in popular philatelic e-magazine 'Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin' August 2023 issue. Scans of select pages are as under:

The cover page

The Index

Page 1 of 3

 

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Webliography:

1.https://www.britannica.com/plant/baobab-tree-genus

2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parijaat_tree,_Kintoor

3.https://www.peepultree.world/livehistoryindia/story/snapshort-histories/baobab-tree

4.https://theindianvegan.blogspot.com/2013/03/all-about-baobab-in-india.html

5.https://outreachecology.com/landmark/lti_d050/

6.https://inhabitat.com/grab-a-drink-inside-a-6000-year-old-baobab-tree-at-south-africas-sunland-bar/big-baobab-bar-south-african-toursim7/

7.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/03/23/fact-check-pub-inside-south-african-baobab-tree-now-closed/4802156001/

8.https://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/11/sunland-baobab-bar-inside-hollowed-out.html

9.https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8a1e/b8cb359287f50ae887cfec61f310e8375c70.pdf

Disclaimer:

The noble objective of this blog, is to promote the hobby of philately through images of stamps, a few pictures and related narration. Some of the scans and pictures featured in this blogpost are mine while others (sourced from internet) are the properties of their respective owners. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. 

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for sharing of knowledge of philately with philatelist fraternity of the world. No commercial or political angle, whatsoever, is involved. Under no circumstances, I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.