Living BeingsCompare species
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus subtilis
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Bacillus subtilis | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Vegetative cells are rods that may occur in chains. An endospore is a differentiated structure formed within a cell. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Soil-associated and plant-associated environments provide changing supplies of organic nutrients. Laboratory strains allow these responses to be studied in controlled conditions. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | Organic compounds support growth, and secreted enzymes help make substrate resources available. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Behavior and activity | Populations can develop distinct physiological states as conditions change. Nutrient limitation can initiate sporulation. | Data unavailable |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Growing vegetative cells can differentiate into resistant endospores. A growth-and-sporulation study found that cells differ in their probability and timing of entering that process. Sporulation is not an immediate population-wide switch, and one cell producing an endospore is a survival transition rather than an increase in cell number. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Isolates and research cultures occur internationally. Strain provenance is more precise than a claim that every soil contains this species. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Growth on organic material and interactions near plants place the bacterium within complex soil communities. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | Endospore formation separates survival through adverse conditions from rapid vegetative multiplication. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: cellular organisms.