A temporary abode for the camping-averse

Exploring the outback but completely hapless when it comes to erecting a tent? You’re in luck. The boab may lay claim to a sinister past – it served as a jail cell for indigenous prisoners during the eighteenth century – but it can also double as a weatherproof residence courtesy of a hollow trunk that spans up to twenty metres in diameter.

An impromptu water source

Thriving for over a thousand years in the Australian desert calls for an extraordinary knack for water retention. Luckily, the boab, which can hold nearly 100,000 litres of water, over-delivers on this front. If you’re thirsty, chew a piece of fibrous bark or skip the mastication and install a tap.

A cure for flagging immune systems

Nutrient-rich and boasting elusive medicinal qualities, the boab played a starring role in indigenous diets across the Kimberley while chasing away everything from fever to malaria with ancient aplomb. These days, boab seeds – curious pods with an obscene vitamin C quotient – are an addictive alternative to orange juice. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

An instant fix for a salad malaise

There’s something dispiriting about a tired salad. Sweet, nutty and entirely edible, baby boab roots can lend your sorriest side-dish some much-needed punch. These delicate tubers are also a blissful addition to soups, dips and pickles.

An arresting alternative to iCal

Tired of a relentless stream of notifications? Nicknamed “Calendar Tree”, the boab’s deciduous rhythms allowed European settlers to read changing seasons with ease. Alternating between dramatic leaflessness and white-flowered splendour, the boab makes a hypnotic – if impractical – replacement for digital bleeps.

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