Baobab is the common name for each of the nine species of tree in the genus Adansonia.
The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described Adansonia digitata.
Of the 9 species, 6 are native to Madagascar, 2 are native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one is native to Australia.
The African and Australian baobabs are almost identical, having separated more than 100 million years ago, probably by oceanic dispersal.
Baobabs reach heights of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft).
Adansonia trees produce faint growth rings, probably annually, but they are not reliable for aging specimens, because they are difficult to count and may fade away as the wood ages. Radiocarbon dating has provided data on a few individuals.
A specimen of A. digitata known as Grootboom was dated and found to be at least 1275 years old, making it one of the oldest known angiosperm trees.
Reference: Wikipedia