Baobab

BAOBAB - pronounced bay-oh-bab

- More than 10 times the antioxidant level of oranges

- And six times more vitamin C

- More than twice the calcium level of milk

- Soluble fibre in fruit pulp has pre-biotic qualities and stimulates good bacteria in gut

- High in potassium, important for brain, nerve and muscle function

- And phosphorus, which helps bones
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WHERE IT GROWS

- Southern, central, western and north-eastern Africa, on savannah

- National tree of Madagascar, where there are seven species

- Western Australia, where one tree was used to imprison Aborigines

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The leaves can be eaten as relish and the fruit dissolved in milk or water and used as a drink. The seeds also yield an edible oil and can be eaten raw or roasted.

The fruit, bark and leaves of the tree are used to treat medical problems including fevers and kidney disease.

The baobab tree can live for hundreds of years. Its trunk can grow up to 50ft (15m) in circumference and reach a height of 98ft (30m).

(source: BBC)