African Legend " The Baobab Tree"

When I went to Africa I was introduced to the Baobab also called the Upside Down Tree.

African legends says that  " In the beginng the Great Spirit, created the world and everything that dwelt therein and with it  so too, the Baobab Tree.

The Baobab had it's own mind and refused to grow where the creator had sown it.

In a fit of anger at the impertinence of this tree- the Creator pulled it out from the ground and stuck it back in upside down- thus giving it it's upside down- roots exposed look.

Some say it is haunted and people have been know to bury their dead in the hollow trunks- In some African tribes people live within their massive trunks or store water within.

Many animals take refuge and make the Baobob tree their home

There is no way of dating their age because their trunks are hollow and also in legend- It is very bad to cut a Baobab down and bad luck will surely follow anyone who tries.

The Fruit also called Monkey Bread makes a nutritous drink with many health benefits attributed to it.

The tree itself is woven into mats and baskets and ropes.

Anyone who can grow a Baobab tree from seed is considered very lucky, because even the Creator could not determine where the great Baobab tree would grow.

Miraculously and maybe call it Insanity -sometimes doing something that in the end seems foolish- I have succeeded in growing three trees from seed- these are over three years old living in a climate that will someday kill them- they continue to grow and prosper even after many moves- go figure?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufnskSFweao

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