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

Among all the geOgraphc-botanical 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 bredd-tree and which bears the botani-
cal apr citation of Addnsonia in Australia. This in
terest has not been created by the fact that the
merical catalogue of plants has been increased by
this new discovery with one entire new Species but
principally because new light has been thrown
thereby upon the history of the planet which in
habit.
Heretofore, but single species of Adansonia
known to the whole botanical system. That spe-
cies (Adansonia Digtata) grows exclusively within
the tropical regions of Africa 1t is also known by
the name of BdObab, such being the appellation civ
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 Kuka, Notodna on
the Senegal it is called Goui, and its fruit Bout;
on the Eastern coast it is known under the of
Muapa.
The growth of the trunk Of the Baobab attains
gigantic dimensions Perrottet met with trunks IF
trees in Senegambia ninety feet in circumference
The crown, surmountiug the trunk in many instan-
ces at least hund red feet surpasses even the mon
sterike appearance of the trunk, by its immense
circumference. The wood of this colossal trunk is
very soft hence its shapeless thickness is abso
lutte necessity for the stability of the tree which
otherwise would be materially endangered by its
loose textile interior The spongv wood permits an
axe to penetrated 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, it TO exude with the slightest
puncture or cut, and promotes decay in its interior
parts hollow trunk of one of these gigantic trees
affords a 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-
markabe sOftness of the cellular tissue that this
tree is shOrt-lived, the contrary, there is no
other tree in existence possessing such intense vital
ity in all its constituent parts. Fire never harm
it. for the abundance of water which its wood con-
tains, affords perfect security against it. Deprived
of its glittering green bark, it produces body
covering it, in "a 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 less is lost by
leaving it to stand undisturbed than by cutting it
down.
Livingstone states that each of the eighty-four
portions of wood, concentrically cased within
each other, OF a BdObdb which had been cut down,
had continued to grow about an inch in thickness
hence he compares it to an onion grGwn into gil
gantic tree.
The branches of this tree and its leaves, are in
perfect proportion to its otherwise colossal dimen
sons 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 finger shaped leaf be
used as desirable vegetable. Clapperton tells us
that the leaves contain sort of jelly, making fine
broth by being rolled up in a Kind of ball, they
serve as hay for horses, and furnish when cooked,
a ref eshing drink for the camel.
10 complete the catalogue OF wonders which
are contained in this tree, we must next consider
its fruit. Its shaped like gourd, and is known
by the name of sour gourd among the colonists 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 vinous
mealy taste, accordingly the tree obtained the name
Of cream of tartar tree among the Beers of Cape
Land. Clapperton says that these eatable gourds,
q ebony