The baobab tree is a special thing to see
猴面包树很特别
During the dry season, its leafless branches look like roots coming from a thick trunk
在旱季，它无叶的树枝看起来像是从粗壮的树干上长出来的根
It appears as if someone took a tree from the ground, flipped it on its head and put it back into the earth
看起来就像有人从地上捡了一棵树，把它的头翻过来，放回地上
That is why the tree is sometimes called the "upside down tree "
这就是为什么这棵树有时被称为“颠倒的树”
Baobab trees grow in Madagascar, mainland Africa and Australia
猴面包树生长在马达加斯加非洲大陆和澳大利亚
The origins and history of the baobab have been something of a mystery
猴面包树的起源和历史一直是个谜
But a new study that looked at all eight recognized species helps tell the baobab's story
但是一项针对所有八种已知物种的新研究有助于讲述猴面包树的故事
The baobab originated in Madagascar about 21 million years ago
猴面包树大约2100万年前起源于马达加斯加
It reached the African continent and Australia sometime in the past 12 million years, researchers found
研究人员发现，它在过去1200万年的某个时候到达了非洲大陆和澳大利亚
Madagascar, an island off Africa's southeastern coast, has a large ecosystem
马达加斯加是非洲东南海岸的一个岛屿，拥有庞大的生态系统
It is home to many kinds of plants
它是许多种植物的家园
Two baobab lineages went extinct in Madagascar
马达加斯加有两个猴面包树世系灭绝了
But the lineages established themselves elsewhere, one in mainland Africa and one in Australia, the study showed
但是研究显示，这些谱系在其他地方建立起来，一个在非洲大陆，一个在澳大利亚
It appears that baobab seed pods floated from Madagascar to mainland Africa, located about 400 kilometers to the west
猴面包树的豆荚似乎从马达加斯加漂浮到非洲大陆，位于西部约400公里处
The seeds also traveled to Australia, nearly 7000 kilometers to the east
种子也传播到澳大利亚，向东近7000公里
"The plants almost certainly got to Africa and Australia floating on or with vegetation rafts " said plant expert Tao Wan of the Wuhan Botanical Garden in China
中国武汉植物园的植物专家陶婉说：“这些植物几乎肯定是漂浮在植物筏上或与植物筏一起到达非洲和澳大利亚的。”
He is one of the writers of the study, which appeared recently in the publication Nature
他是这项研究的作者之一，该研究最近发表在《自然》杂志上
Wan added that the seeds were able to travel to Australia because of the Indian Ocean gyre, an oceanic current
万补充说，由于印度洋环流，种子能够传播到澳大利亚
Baobab trees provide food, shelter and nesting places for wildlife, including bees, birds and various mammals
猴面包树为野生动物，包括蜜蜂、鸟类和各种哺乳动物提供食物、庇护所和筑巢场所
Their fruits also provide important nutrients and medicines for people
它们的果实也为人们提供重要的营养和药物
Baobab leaves can be eaten, too
猴面包树叶也可以吃
The trees produce large, sweet-smelling flowers
这些树开出大而芳香的花
Their sugary nectar appeals to nighttime pollinators like fruit bats and hawk moths
它们含糖的花蜜吸引夜间授粉者，如果蝠和天蛾
Their flowers also attract two kinds of primates -- lemurs in Madagascar and bush babies in Africa
它们的花也吸引了两种灵长类动物马达加斯加的狐猴和非洲的丛林宝宝
Ilia Leitch is a plant geneticist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London
伊利亚·利奇是伦敦皇家植物园邱园的植物遗传学家
He is also a study co-writer
他也是研究合著者
He said baobabs can grow to be very large and live for thousands of years
他说猴面包树可以长得很大可以活上千年
Their very large root systems “play an important ecological role, helping to slow down soil erosion and enabling nutrient recycling ” he said
他说，它们非常大的根系“发挥着重要的生态作用，有助于减缓土壤侵蚀，实现养分循环”
Baobabs are a water source for local people during the dry season
猴面包树是当地人旱季的水源
But Africa's baobabs are at risk from elephant damage
但是非洲的猴面包树面临大象破坏的风险
The animals sometimes cut the tree trunks with their tusks to get water
动物们有时用象牙砍树干取水
I’m Dan Novak
我是丹·诺瓦克