Sunday, September 27, 2015

BAOBAB, THE UPSIDE-DOWN TREE - PICTURES BY MARCUS HIRN IN OCTOBER 2010

In my word puzzle books, by Penny Press, one of the puzzles I do is called Crypto-Botany. It is a
bit of trivial information about plants with the text written in code. My job is to decipher this bit of
knowledge.
Some of what the puzzle told me was this. It grows in tropical areas, is notable for its wide trunk and
unusual shape. (In the pictures you will see why it is called an upside-down tree). It bears fruit, sometimes called "monkey bread". The bark of the tree can be used for natural medicine to reduce fever and to make ropes and cloth. Some old hollow baobabs are even used for dwellings. The tree can store water during droughts, leading to its nickname, "tree of life.
After researching this tree I found that the fruit has a yogurty, sweet taste. It is consumed by the native peoples and the elephants! Let's have a look at this strange and fascinating tree.
The tops of the trees look like roots, thus the "upside down" tree.
The fruit called "Monkey Bread". 

The inside of the baobab fruit. 

The author of these pictures called this one "Lovers".

Aren't they stately!

I hope that you liked this blog. If you want to know more and want to see more, just visit the google. Type in "baobab tree" and enjoy! 

Sunday, September 13, 2015

One picture says it all - man's inhumanity to man


Three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian boy whose lifeless body washed ashore on a Turkish beach.