Baobab trees first originated in Madagascar 41 million years ago before dispersing to Australia and mainland Africa.

An international research team led by Dr. Ilia Leitch and Prof. Andrew Leitch conducted the study, which has been published in Nature.

The study involved analyzing genomes from eight baobab species to understand their evolutionary adaptations.

Different flower structures in baobabs evolved to attract various pollinators, a key finding from the genomic analysis.

Climate change has significantly influenced baobab distribution and speciation patterns over time.

The research underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect baobab trees, which are culturally and ecologically significant.

Conservation strategies derived from the study's insights are critical to prevent the potential extinction of baobabs due to climate change and deforestation.