Science

Judi Lynn

(160,588 posts) Mon Aug 6, 2018, 06:47 PM Aug 2018

Curious Kimberley: Scientists disagree how boab trees got to Australia from Africa and Madagascar

ABC Kimberley By Ben Collins
Posted 55 minutes ago

PHOTO: Boabs are a striking tree that grow in many parts of the Kimberley and a small area of the Top End.
(Supplied: Kevin Smith)

They are striking, fat-trunked trees unique to parts of the Kimberley and a small section of the Top End, but two scientists studying how they came from Africa or Madagascar have widely different explanations.

If you've ever seen a boab tree you don't need to be a botanist to realise something strange is going on.

Their trunks are swollen and wrinkly — as if someone has planted an elephant which has sprouted into a tree.

They are so unlike any other Australian tree that you can't help but wonder where they came from.

More:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-07/boabs-come-africa-baobabs-evolution/10060946

For anyone who can't get enough Boab trees, please see far more images here:
https://tinyurl.com/yap56w7m

Hooray for Boabs.

6 replies

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Curious Kimberley: Scientists disagree how boab trees got to Australia from Africa and Madagascar (Original Post) Judi Lynn Aug 2018 OP

Reminds me of the boojum tree of the Sonoran Desert royable Aug 2018 #1

My goodness! How wonderful. Had to go look for one with leaves, am astonished! Judi Lynn Aug 2018 #2

Hmmmm ... boab seems to be the preferred term in Oz, but baobab elsewhere ? eppur_se_muova Aug 2018 #3

That startled me. Had never seen that name for "baobab." Unexpected. n/t Judi Lynn Aug 2018 #4

Those are some very alien looking trees. procon Aug 2018 #5

Wow. A tree like that would clearly cause a lot of double-takes! They do look totally alien. n/t Judi Lynn Aug 2018 #6

royable

(1,264 posts)

1. Reminds me of the boojum tree of the Sonoran Desert

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 06:59 PM

Aug 2018

[link:https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-cactus-baja-mexico-weird-looking-boojum-tree-sonoran-desert-california-image72272346|]
[link:https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g31310-d109186-i98349454-Desert_Botanical_Garden-Phoenix_Arizona.html|]

though I'm sure they're not genetically connected. Parallel evolution and all that.

Judi Lynn

(160,588 posts)

2. My goodness! How wonderful. Had to go look for one with leaves, am astonished!

Reply to royable (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 07:16 PM

Aug 2018

Never knew these trees exist until now. So cool!

Here's their google images page:

https://tinyurl.com/y82foky5

Just one shape they can take.

Now the similarity really shows!

Thank you for introducing these desert critters. I've got to see as many of them as I can. They are spectacular.

eppur_se_muova

(36,275 posts)

3. Hmmmm ... boab seems to be the preferred term in Oz, but baobab elsewhere ?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 07:22 PM

Aug 2018

I had always heard baobab.

Judi Lynn

(160,588 posts)

4. That startled me. Had never seen that name for "baobab." Unexpected. n/t

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #3)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 07:29 PM

Aug 2018

procon

(15,805 posts)

5. Those are some very alien looking trees.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 07:47 PM

Aug 2018

I've seen them at a couple of the big arboretums in the Los Angeles area. Every once in a while I'll spot one in someone's yard, one was shaped like a squat, giant onion.

Judi Lynn

(160,588 posts)

6. Wow. A tree like that would clearly cause a lot of double-takes! They do look totally alien. n/t

Reply to procon (Reply #5)

Mon Aug 6, 2018, 11:36 PM

Aug 2018

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