Before the time of Legions strong
When Romans wore their tresses long,
Before the ape man rose *****
To view the world as circumspect,
Before the storms of red dust came
To render this parched land arcane,
There grew a tree of ugly norm
Of massive girth and height and form,
Ungainly so and so immense
As to astound thee to commence,
To fear the very sight beheld
On Africa’s savannah veldt.
The baobab rose from the plain
Unearthly, in demonic name,
An apparition to dismay
All those who dare to come this way.
Vaulting from savannah grass
To clasp the heavens in it's grasp
Then spread its’ limbs, as if to be,
All silhouettes’ eternity.
Giant Aloft in giant-less land,
Far more than thee would understand,
Mystic in its’ silent way
Eternal as the light of day,
Starkly silhouetted sight
Affronting delving sunset’s might.
M.
18 January 2016
....and there are 9 species of baobab tree, six from Madagascar, two from Africa and one from Australia.
The baobabs biggest enemys are drought, water logging, lightning and elephants.
Baobabs store large volumes of water in their massive trunks...which is why elephants, eland and other animals relentlessly chew the bark during dry seasons.
Baboons and warthogs eat the seedpods, weavers build their nests in the huge branches and barn owls, mottled spinetails and ground hornbills roost in the many hollows The creased trunks and hollowed interiors also provide homes to countless reptiles, insects and bats
The baobab flowers in the dead of night, producing a beautiful, giant bloom which only lasts for one short day. The fruit is highly nutritious being full of rich antioxidants.
M.