Baobab
It’s sometimes called the “Tree of Life” for its supportive qualities and long lifespan stretching thousands of years —and it’s also known as the “Upside-Down Tree” for its root-like branches. But no matter the name, the baobab tree has long captivated the human imagination with its surreal shape and enduring presence. Eight living species of the baobab genus Adansonia exist worldwide: one in mainland Africa, six in Madagascar and one in northwestern Australia. Yet, the origins of these botanical behemoths have eluded scientists for years. Many researchers thought the trees began on the African mainland, then spread to the other locations, the New York Times ’ Rachel Nuwer reports. However, a study published last week in the journal Nature used the genomes of each baobab species to unravel the tree’s ancient origins, instead tracing its lineage to Madagascar 21 million years ago. Over the course of millions of years, the team reports, diverse baobab species em...
