The bizarre evolutionary roots of upside-down baobab trees revealed

The iconic 'upside-down' baobab tree first emerged on the island of Madagascar, new research into its tangled evolutionary history has revealed.

- RICHARD PALLARDY

It's still not clear, however, how it jumped from Madagascar to Australia. The majestic baobab tree can grow to heights of 25 metres and can live thousands of years. It is often dubbed 'the tree of life' thanks to its amazing capacity to store water, provide food and even medicine from its leaves. However, the origins of the baobab have been shrouded in mystery, in part because it's found in multiple regions. One species, Adansonia digitata, is found in some 32 African countries, and another, A. gregorii, is found in northwestern Australia. The other six species are endemic to Madagascar.