This extraordinary tree is the African Baobab, Adansonia digitata. It is native to much of sub-Saharan Africa and belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae—the same family as hibiscus, cotton and cacao.

The first thing most people notice is the enormous swollen trunk. Baobabs store water in the soft, fibrous wood of the trunk and branches, helping them survive long dry seasons. Older trees may become tremendously broad, and some develop hollow interiors as the trunk ages.

The branches are often thick and irregular, spreading from the top of the trunk like roots reaching into the sky. This has inspired the popular description of the Baobab as the “upside-down tree.”

The scientific name digitata refers to the leaves. Each leaf is divided into several leaflets that spread outward like the fingers of a hand. During the dry season, the tree may lose all its leaves, leaving only the massive trunk and bare branches. When the rains return, fresh foliage appears.

The flowers are large, white and usually hang downward on long stalks. They often open in the late afternoon or evening and have a strong scent. Their timing and structure are well suited to pollination by bats and other nocturnal visitors.

After flowering, the tree produces large, oval fruits with a hard, velvety shell. Inside is a dry, pale pulp surrounding dark seeds. The pulp is naturally tart and rich in vitamin C and has long been used in drinks, foods and traditional preparations. The leaves, bark, seeds and fruit have all been useful to people, which is why the Baobab is sometimes called the “Tree of Life.”

Baobabs can live for many centuries, although estimating their age is difficult because their wood does not always form clear annual growth rings. Their great size and unusual shape have made them important landmarks as well as sources of food, medicine, fiber and shelter.

When looking at a Baobab, we are seeing a tree shaped by extremes: months of drought followed by seasonal rain. Its huge trunk, deciduous leaves, night-opening flowers and durable fruit are all adaptations that allow it to survive in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.