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Southernmost Baobab


Southernmost Baobab
Photo Information
Copyright: Annick Vanderschelden (vanderschelden) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2712 W: 78 N: 7405] (30147)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-08
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon 400mm 2.8 IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger National Park
Theme(s): TreeBark [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-08-22 14:01
Viewed: 924
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a detail of the so-called Southernmost Baobab.
You don't need the wide-angle in Kruger:-).
It is situated along the N'waswitsontso river and west of the Kumana Dam. About 25km south of Satara.here
In the SAN Parks forum there's a good thread about this extraordinary tree.You can find it here


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Adansonia digitata

Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Adansonia
Species: A. digitata
Binomial name
Adansonia digitata
L.

Adansonia digitata, the baobab, is the most widespread of the Adansonia species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas. The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the Atlantic coast and in the Sudan does its occurrence venture naturally into the Sahel. On the Atlantic coast this may be due to spreading after cultivation. Its occurrence is very limited in Central Africa and it is found only in the very north of Southern Africa. In Eastern Africa the trees grow also in shrublands and on the coast. In Angola and Namibia the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the savannah, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age.

The tree bears very large, heavy white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a carrion scent and researchers have shown they appear to be primarily pollinated by fruit bats of the subfamily Pteropodinae. The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread.

The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.

The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. It has been suggested that the vegetable has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.
robindb, Evelynn, cicindela, eqshannon, Alex99, boreocypriensis, mala-zaba has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To janhendrik: Hello Jan,vanderschelden 3 08-24 03:54
To mala-zaba: Hello Eric,vanderschelden 1 08-23 06:25
To robindb: Hello Robinvanderschelden 1 08-23 04:32
To Alex99: Hello Alexeivanderschelden 1 08-23 04:24
To cicindela: Hello Radomirvanderschelden 1 08-23 04:16
To boreocypriensis: Actually, I think you can..vanderschelden 1 08-23 04:07
To eqshannon: Hi Bob,vanderschelden 1 08-23 03:53
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Critiques [Translate]

Fantastic post! A arty picture, very well done, Annick. You are making my mouth water for Kruger. I booked place today for October.

Hi Annick,

You have once again shown one of the special things of Africa. Viewers who have not seen a baobab cannot even think of the awe that these 1000 year old trees engender. The area that you have shown is probably about 1 foot wide to give some scale if I am correct. Well taken

This tree's surface looks almost like a fiber fabric. Interesting detail and note.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Got me good on this one Annick..I love trees...I think if there were a power in nature that I would have to guess as the greatest...it would be trees..We cannot live without them...we just can't...tt is simple in some ways..but to me it means pure wilderness...not desert:-)
Bob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3591 W: 143 N: 5691] (18607)
  • [2008-08-22 22:45]
  • [+]

Hi Annick.
Perfect reproduction of all attractive features and details of the famous tree which I have never seen alive and which I will never see anytime. This picture reminds me a skin of the old elephant. It is funny a bit. My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.

Hello Annick!
I must say that at first view I had no idea what is presented on this picture. This is rather unusual object as for you :) And really - I like it! It is something totaly different and original.
The structure of bark suggests that it was rather old (very old?) tree, and probably also very big one. It is a pitty that it is not possible to see entire plant, but on the other hand this is (as for me) rather artistic photo, so no additional documentary elements are needed :>
Anyway, very interesting and informative note.
TFS and have a nice weekend,
Radomir

Hi friend Annick,
A perfect macro and very artistic shot of a bark of a baobab tree. Can we obtain a boabab wine:) from this traditional food?
TFS this beauty.
Cheers,
Bayram

Hello Annick,
An interesting detail of these magical trees.
Salutacions cordials. Ferran

Hi Annick,
A good artistic photo. At the first view, I think a areal shoot because you don't post many macro... Do you try in B&W?
TFS
Eric

Bonjour,
Intéressante structure bien marquée.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2008-08-26 7:47]

Where the feathers or fur?? Just kidding, this is really well seen and taken shot. I can see what drew you to this one Annick, fascinating textures and shape, really nicely framed too...looks like it has veins under it's skins...almost Elelphant like!
Paul

Hi Annick,
This is a very original photo of a much photographed tree. I think we all know the shape by now. But, I am sure that many of us haven't see details of the bark. It is as if the bark is made from some kind of liqued and it cooled rappidly. The details and different lines in this photo are great.
TFS,
Niek

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