Along a stretch of the road is a
grove of 20–25
Adansonia grandidieri baobabs. An additional 25 or so trees of this species are found growing over nearby rice paddies and meadows within of land. The trees, which are
endemic to Madagascar, are about in height. The
baobab trees, known locally as
renala or
reniala (from
Malagasy reny ala "mother of the forest") are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the
sere landscape of scrub, but stood in dense forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much for their own sake as for their value as a food source and building material. According to legend, these two baobabs came and grew together across the centuries. Baobabs found themselves after an impossible love between a young man and young woman of the nearby village. Both youths already had designated partners and had to marry separately in their respective villages. However, the impossible couple dreamed of a life and child together and asked the help of their god. Both baobabs were born and now live there for eternity as one as the couple always wished. == Conservation status ==