Picture of the Day: The [Tree] That [Saved] the Camel's Back

Photo Courtesy The Daily Mail

A lonely, over-heated dromedary seeking a respite from the overwhelming heat of the desert sun is today's Picture of the Day. 

 This over-heated camel sought refuge in the boiling heat on the island of Soqotra in Yemen by sheltering in the shade under a bizarre tree which looks like a gigantic mushroom. Using the tree as an over-sized parasol, the camel was able to rest and recuperate after trekking across the hot sand dunes on the tiny, desert island located in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. 


The tree is called the Dragon's Blood tree, named for the crimson sap that seeps from the bark. The sap has been used for centuries locally, both as a tint for paint as well as for medicinal reasons. The tree is extremely rare, only growing on the small, remote island.