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Baobab. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Baobab, Adansonia digitata. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Baobab (Adansonia)

Family: Baobab (Malvaceae)

Origin: Baobab comes from Africa, where it is a symbol of vitality and longevity. The plant has also been introduced to other regions including Australia and Madagascar.

Area: Baobabs grow in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and Madagascar.

Chemical composition: Baobab contains a large amount of nutrients, including vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. It also contains antioxidants and prebiotics that help maintain gut health.

Economic value: The baobab has many uses in local culture, including the use of its fruits for food and for the treatment of various diseases. In addition, baobab trunks are used to produce paper and cloth, as well as to build dwellings and storehouses. Baobab is now becoming a popular ingredient in the food and cosmetic industries due to its high content of antioxidants and nutrients.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In many African tribes, the baobab is considered a sacred tree and a symbol of life. One of the legends says that when the god created the world, he saw that the baobab was so tall that it interfered with the earth at the dawn of time. Then he decided to transplant the tree to the mountain, but the baobab was so heavy that only the forces of heaven could lift it. That is why the branches of the baobab resemble roots, and the trunk resembles the sky. In African mythology, the baobab is considered a tree that connects the earthly world and the afterlife, and its thick trunk is a link between these worlds. The baobab has very deep roots that allow it to survive in drought conditions and are a symbol of resilience, endurance and the will to live. Also, the baobab is considered a symbol of wisdom, because it can live for more than 1000 years, and some species of this tree live up to 5000 years. Baobab leaves are used in African medicine, and the fruits and seeds serve as food and raw materials for the production of oil. All this makes the baobab a symbol of fertility, wealth and abundance.

Baobab, Adansonia digitata. Description, illustrations of the plant

Baobab. Interesting plant facts

Here it is - the most useful and most unusual tree of the savannah. The tree is the oldest of the Earth's centenarians.

The lifespan of baobabs is incredible. It can reach several ... thousands - can you imagine: thousands - years! The oldest baobab, according to scientists, was five thousand years old!!! This means that its sprout saw the sun at a time when not a single city existed on Earth yet. The most enlightened people of that time had just learned to make metal axes from copper instead of stone axes. How many human generations have changed since then?

But let's take a closer look at our new acquaintance. Good, isn't it? Well, just like an elephant tree! Among the baobabs there are specimens of simply fantastic weight - twenty or even forty meters in girth! To hug such a trunk, you would have to join hands with your entire class! And the height of baobabs, like most of the most ordinary trees, is only 20-25 meters. Therefore, their exceptional obesity is especially striking ...

Here, perhaps, you, having apologized, will interrupt me. You'll say:

- But this, in front of us, is no longer a living tree, but only its dried trunk: there is not a single leaf on it! Only under the bare boughs hang some "melons", as if tied on strings ...

- No, - I will answer, - in front of us is the liveliest baobab. It's just that here, in the savannah, the dry season has already begun, which stretches from December to June. The baobab would have really dried up during these long six months if, like the acacia, it had not been freed for this time from the main evaporators of moisture: it had not shed its leaves. As for the mysterious "melons" that sway in the wind under the bare baobab branches, no one tied them. They themselves grew up on the baobab - these are its fruits. They hang on long stalks - thin and flexible stems - and ripen just at the beginning of the dry season. Their red, like a watermelon, pulp is mealy and sour, it refreshes and nourishes. No wonder it has long been eaten by the local population. The fruits of the baobab are also very fond of monkeys, which is why it is also called "monkey breadfruit" ...

Baobab finger: 1 - general view; 2 - flowering shoot; 3 - branch with fruit

But here, perhaps, you will apologize again and interrupt me again:

- How about in the savannah, - you ask, - where the plants lack water so much, how does such a hefty tree live here - almost the first fat man among all the trees on Earth?

- That's it - fat man! That's just the whole point ... Come to the trunk, right here - here some animals have peeled off the smooth gray baobab bark. See how thick and thick she is? It is protection from the sun and wind, from desiccation. Now look how loose and soft the wood is hiding under the bark.

She, like a sponge, absorbs water, and the more water, the thicker the trunk. With such a water reserve, the fat baobab easily survives the long period of drought here, lack of rain and is not afraid of the scorching tropical sun. On the contrary, he loves warmth, light, space and does not tolerate shade. You will not meet him in company with either his brother, the baobab, or any other tree. It always grows alone...

Soon the locals will gather fruits from our tree, and then it will be completely bare. But the first summer rains will pass, and white flowers will sway on the same flexible and long pendant stems. Their size matches the tree - with a large soup plate. And then the thick branches of the baobab will be dressed in dense greenery. Its large soft leaves are carved with a beautiful five-pointed star. In the savannah, it is not beneficial to have a solid leaf, like a burdock. And one like that of a baobab, clawed, carved, will hold out even under the blows of a strong wind and will give less moisture.

By the way, baobab leaves are also used as human food. In addition, the leaves, fruits, and bark of this rare tree are used to prepare healing potions for malaria, stomach and eye diseases. And thin strings for musical instruments and very strong thick ropes are also twisted from the bark. Even in the savannah, there is a saying: "Helpless, like an elephant tied with a baobab rope."

Presumably, elephants do not really like being tied with a baobab rope, but they feast on juicy baobab wood with great pleasure. Besides...

Wow! You see, my brave companion, a herd of wild elephants is approaching our tree. They are not to be trifled with - we should move quickly from here.

Author: Margolin Ya.A.

Baobab, Adansonia digitata. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• To strengthen the immune system: prepare a tincture of baobab bark. To prepare, pour 1 tablespoon of chopped baobab bark with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 15-20 minutes. Refrigerate the tincture and drink 1/4 cup 3 times a day. This tincture will help strengthen the immune system and prevent colds.
• To improve digestion: eat baobab fruits fresh or dried. Baobab fruits are high in soluble and insoluble fibers that help improve digestion, prevent constipation, and lower blood cholesterol levels.
• To lower blood pressure: prepare a tincture of baobab bark. To prepare, pour 1 tablespoon of chopped baobab bark with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 15-20 minutes. Cool the tincture and drink 1/4 cup 2 times a day. This tincture will help lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
• To reduce inflammation: Make an ointment with ground baobab fruit and shea butter. To prepare, mix 2 tablespoons of ground baobab fruit with 1 tablespoon of shea butter. Apply the resulting ointment to the inflamed area and leave for 30-40 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Cosmetology:

• To moisturize the skin: prepare a face mask with baobab flour. To prepare, mix 1 tablespoon of baobab flour with enough water to make a paste consistency. Apply the mask on your face for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. The mask will help moisturize the skin and improve its texture.
• To improve skin color: make a body scrub with baobab flour. To prepare, mix 1 tablespoon of baobab flour with 1 tablespoon of honey and enough body butter to get the consistency of a scrub. Apply the scrub on the body and massage in circular motions, then rinse with warm water. The scrub will help remove dead skin cells and improve its color.
• To strengthen hair: Make a baobab oil hair mask. To prepare, mix 2 tablespoons of baobab oil with 1 tablespoon of honey and apply to your hair. Leave the mask on your hair for 30-40 minutes, then rinse with shampoo. The mask will help strengthen the hair and improve its texture.
• To protect the skin from harmful effects: use a face or body cream based on baobab oil. Baobab oil contains antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radical damage and reduce signs of aging. The cream will help moisturize and nourish the skin, improve its texture and color.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Baobab, Adansonia digitata. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Baobab is an exotic plant that originally grows in Africa, Australia and Madagascar. Baobab has an unusual appearance, which makes it an interesting object to grow as an ornamental plant. In addition, its fruits are a source of nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing baobab:

Cultivation:

• Soil and Lighting: Baobab prefers full sun and grows in well-drained soils rich in mineral salts and organic matter.
• Planting and Depth: Baobabs should be planted in deep holes, the depth of which should be equal to the size of the root system of the plant.
• Distance between plants: The distance between plants should be at least 5-10 meters so that the plants have enough room to grow and develop.
• Plant care: Baobabs need regular watering, especially during periods of drought. You can also fertilize your plants with organic fertilizers in the spring and fall. Trim plants to maintain their shape and promote growth.

Workpiece:

• Ripe baobab fruits are harvested in autumn when they fall to the ground. Fruits must be peeled, dried and stored in a dry place.
• A new plant can be grown from seeds. To do this, the seeds must be dried and then placed in water for 24 hours to swell. Then the seeds can be planted in the ground.

Storage:

• Dried baobab fruits can be stored for several years in a dry and cool place.
• Baobab seeds can be stored for several years in a dry place at room temperature.

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