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Where are baobab trees native?
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Malvales
A fony baobab tree (Adansonia rubrostipa), estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, in Madagascar.
Baobab trees (genus Adansonia) are members of the mallow family within the Malvales order. There are nine recognized species, which are native to the following regions:
- Madagascar: Seven species are endemic to the island.1
- Mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula: One species, the African baobab, is native to these areas.1
- Australia: One species, known as the boab, is native to the Kimberley region of Western Australia.1
While historically some speculated that the Australian species was a remnant of the ancient Gondwana landmass, evidence suggests it arrived in Australia via long-distance seed dispersal from Africa.1