Chapter 1
The biology of a survivor
Chapter 2
A global family tree
Chapter 3
Legends of the upside-down tree
Chapter 4
The ecosystem anchor
YOUR GOAL
Master of The baobab tree of life
Ch 1 · The biology of a survivor
artiteacher The biology of a survivor
Drinking in the storm, / giant woody sponge, / safe when dry times come!
artiteacher Thick, spongy bark protects the baobab from devastating savanna wildfires and regenerates when damaged.
artiteacher Baobabs lack traditional growth rings, requiring scientists to use radiocarbon dating to determine their age.
BETA
artiteacher Water your baobab to learn how this upside-down tree of life survives harsh droughts.
Fun Fact
Baobab age: The oldest known baobab, the Panke tree in Zimbabwe, lived for 2,500 years before collapsing in 2011.
Quiz
Why is it difficult to determine a baobab's age using traditional tree-ring counting?