That ‘colossus of the bush’, the boab tree, has long intrigued visitors to the Kimberley. Where did it come from? How long does it live? With its strong branches and gnarled trunk, the boab is a minor ecosystem, providing shade and shelter for other lives. Native bees and bagmoths, lizards and nesting birds, cattle and human beings, the boab embraces them all. Some aged boabs bear scars from long-past visitors: Aboriginal engravings, Muslim prayer alcoves, the name of a ship, the trace of an explorers’ camp, a desperate message to absent comrades. Pat Lowe is a keen observer of the natural world. In this book she takes us through the science and history of the boab and into a realm of stories about the Kimberley’s most beloved tree.

Describes the biology, distribution and human associations of the baob tree. Discusses Aboriginal peoples use of the boab tree and stories associated with it, as well as European explorers’ encounters with these trees. The author has written several books about the traditional life in the Great Sandy Desert. Includes a map showing the distribution of the eight boab species, a bibliography and an index. pp. vi, 97 colour illusts #0720