The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-08
THE OLDEST ORGANIC MONUMENT ON
EARTH.

Among all the gengraphc-botani discoveries
of modern times, none has excited more general
interest, than the discovery of species of that
wonderful tree, commonly known by the name of
the monkeys breadree, and which bears the botani-
cal apr citation of Adansond, in Australia. This in
teres has not been created by the fact that the
merical catalogue of plants has been increased by
this new discovery with one entire species, but
principally because new light has been thrown
thereby upon the history of the planet which in
habit.
Heretofore, but one single species of Adansonia
was known to the whole botanical system That spe-
ces (Adansonia Digitata) grows exclusively within
the tropical regions of Africa. 1t is also known by
the name of Baobdb such being the appellation civ
en- to the fruit of the tree by the native Ethiopans
In the interior of the Continent of Africa the tree
is known under the name of kukd, or Wooand; on
the Senegal, it is called Goui and its fruit Boui;
the Eastern coast it is known under the name OF
Wuiapd.
The growth of the trunk Of the BaoJab attains
gigantic dimensions. PerrOttet met with trunks of
trees in Senegambia ninety feet in circumference.
The crown, surmountiug the trunk in MANY nstan-
ces at least hund red feet surpasses the
ster-like appearance of the trunk, by its immense
circumference. The wood of this colossal trunk is
very soft; hence its shapeess thickness is abso-
Lutte necessity for the stability of the tree which
otherwise would be materially endangered by its
loose textile interior. The spongy wood permits an
axe to penetrate it deeply, and numerous trees are
met with by travellers, that are covered with
wounds and sores. The extraordinary abundance
of sap, especially at certain seasons when it flows
most freely, causes it to exude with the slightest
puncture cut, and promotes decay in its interior
parts. hollow trunk of one of these gigantic trees,
affords natural hotel for twenty or thirty per
sons and in Of the negro districts of that coun
try, hollow BaObab is transformed into Court
house.
We must not conclude, however, from the re
markable softness OF the cellular tissue that this
tree is shOrtved, as the contrary, there is no
other tree in existence possessing such intense vital
ty in all its constituen: parts Fire never harm
it, for the abundance of water which its wood
tains, affords perfect security against It, Deprived
OF its gliterng green bark, it produces new body
covering it, in very short time by granulation,
like the cork tree. When cut down. the trunk con-
tinues to grow lengthwise, and throws out such an
abundance of small limbs that a less area is lost by
leaving it to stand undisurbed, than by cutting it
down.
Livingstone states that each of the eighty-iour
portions of wood, cOncentrcally cased within
each other, of a Baobab which had been cut down,
had continued to grow about an inch in thickness ;
| hence he compares it to onion grGwn into gi-
| gantic tree.
perfect proportion to its otherwise colossal dimen
| sions and singular qualities while the trunk forms
sort of vegetable well in dry countries, as by the
slightest incision large quantity of fluid matter
may be drawn from it, the tngershaped leaf can be
used as desirable vegetable. Clapperton tells us
that the leaves contain sort of jelly, making fine
broth; by being rolled up in kind Of ball, they
serve as hay for horses, and furnish when cooked,
| ref eshing drink for the camel.
To complete the catalogue of wonders which
contained in this tree, we must next consider
its fruit. 1t shaped like gourd, and is known
by the name OF sour gourd among the colonlsts OF
Cape Land. 1t may be cut up into fourteen por
tions, each of which containing about one hundred
and fifty grains of seed in loose, rosecolored cover
ing, and might be called lemon. 1t has vinou
mealy taste, accordingly the tree obtained the nam
of cream of tartar tree among the Beers OF Cap
Land. Clapperton says that these eatabe gourds
covered as they are by soft felt on their ebon,