well, not until i came across a forwarded link that took me to a photo site that featured the grandest and most magnificent trees in the world. only then did i find out that there is, indeed, such a thing as a baobab tree. call me stupid, but i've thought all this time that it's just some invented planetoid vegetation from that tiny saint-exupéry book, the little prince.
and boy, do they look marvelous. apparently, as the link explains, putting the baobab tree on top of the list (grabbed photos are credited to their respective sources):
"The amazing baobab (Adansonia) or monkey bread tree can grow up to nearly 100 feet (30m) tall and 35 feet (11m) wide. Their defining characteristic: their swollen trunk are actually water storage - the baobab tree can store as much as 31,700 gallon (120,000 liters) of water to endure harsh drought conditions.
Baobab trees are native to Madagascar (it’s the country’s national tree!), mainland Africa, and Australia. A cluster of "the grandest of all" baobab trees (Adansonia grandidieri) can be found in the Baobab Avenue, near Morondava, in Madagascar."
"In Ifaty, southwestern Madagascar, other baobabs take the form of bottles, skulls, and even teapots."
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and my most favorite photo:
sana nga lang may balete rin. better if the resident kapre decides to join the photo op, grinning broadly and blowing tobacco smoke rings on the photographer's face. 'yun ang talagang panalo! punung-puno ng kabayawan.
