Adansonia

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/adansonia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Adansonia
2. What is the key feature?Massive, water-storing trunks, deciduous nature, and unique 'upside-down' appearance
3. What makes baobab trees look like upside‑down giants?Baobabs have huge, bottle‑shaped trunks and branches that grow like roots, so they look like upside‑down giants.
4. Why do baobab trees store so much water?Their trunks are spongy and fibrous, letting them soak up and slowly release thousands of liters of water to survive long dry periods.

Xerophytic Adaptation: Biological features that enable plants to survive in extremely dry environments.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance.
Deciduous: Trees or shrubs that shed their leaves annually, typically in autumn.
Autotrophic: An organism that can produce its own food, usually through photosynthesis.