“It’s not a frequent bloomer,” I noted, talking to myself as I studied the website. My hope was to someday follow a dream of a garden tour in Brazil, and to see the beautiful baobab trees (among other plants).
With current travel restrictions in place, my dream may be on hold for some time, but that isn’t going to stop me from studying online.
“And it wouldn’t survive my northern climate,” I read on. If it only blooms once in 50 years, what were my chances of ever seeing it?
一些猴面包树(如非洲象牙海岸的那些)每年开花一到两次,但在巴西不开花。它其实是一棵多肉植物。有趣的是,由于猴面包树可以在巨大的树干中吸收和储存水分,它通常被称为生命之树或瓶子树。与其他花朵不同的是,猴面包树在晚上开花。这是夜间。
Baobab trees are probably the longest living trees in the world. There’s one tree in Namibia in southern African that is carbon dated toover 1200 years old.Part of the hibiscus or mallow family, the huge trunk, sometimes as much as 30 feet in diameter with a height of almost 60 feet, has given credence to legends.
Its peculiar shape recalls an Arabian legend that claims the tree wasplucked up out of the ground by the devilhimself, and thrust again into the Earth, branches first, leaving the roots in the air.
With a trunk that stores water, this tree thrives in some of the driest regions on the planet. Some of the older trees have huge hollow trunks.
花朵下垂,大,有一种独特的香味,像玫瑰或茉莉花。这种花由蝙蝠、狐猴和鹰蛾授粉。它的幼叶可以食用,它的大木本果实(形状像葫芦)有一种明胶状的果肉,可以制成美味、提神的饮料。
Both leaves and fruit are used for various medicinal purposes. The bark is made up of a strong fiber that is used for rope and cloth as well as for various hunting and fishing tools.
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As the tree expands and ages, the trunk often becomes hollow which makes an excellent reservoir for water or provides a temporary shelter. There are stories of the hollow trunks serving as prisons, burial sites, and stables. Some people associate cultural and religious significance to these trees; not surprising since it’s referred to as the Tree of Life.
虽然它最近倒塌了,但曾经有一棵猴面包树,它是如此的宽和中空,它是一个酒吧!这是一张Instagram上的照片,展示了2017年坍塌前的样子。
Are baobab trees doomed to extinction due to climate change? The sudden increase in the decline of the oldest baobab trees suggests climate changemay be affecting them.一些最古老、最大的非洲猴面包树已经死亡,或者至少它们最大、最古老的树干已经倒塌。
This may also be due, in part, to the lengthy, slow-growing time, but climate change is certainly threatening its natural habitat and very survival. So much so that some of the species have been listed as endangered.
Baobab Trees Blooming
The most interesting part of the baobab is its flowers. They bloom maybe once every 50 years and even then, the blossoms are only open for about 24 hours mostly at night. The tree produces lots of buds, and the opening of the baobab flower isan event in itself.猴面包树在雨季长出叶子后开花。
Then comes the blooming, a process that begins in the late afternoon and close to sunset. The larger, older baobab trees can carry hundreds of flowers, not all of which will open at the same time. The green outside makes them look like the fruit that will develop later. The first sign of blooming is when the outer shell rolls up toward the stalks.
Within seconds, the flower petals unfurl like opening an umbrella. Sounds fantastic, and a must-see. However, like all living creatures, every tree is different. While most flowers open within seconds, there are some whose flowers need hours to open. The slower blooming trees are called late bloomers.
In the video below, you can learn more about the baobab and watch a video of this fantastic blooming stage taking place.
As a long-living tree, baobabs have evolved and adapted to environment. Like a succulent, they absorb water during the rainy season, storing it in their huge trunks to produce the nutrient-dense fruit — even in the dry season. Another reason why it’s called the Tree of Life.
And since some baobab trees bloom twice a year, perhaps by the time their next blooming begins, the pandemic will be over, and I can travel. Here’s hoping.
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