Adansonia - Revision history

Raffi at 02:08, 4 November 2010

2010-11-04T02:08:53Z

Murali.lalitha at 02:44, 28 September 2010

2010-09-28T02:44:21Z

Raffi at 18:20, 30 June 2009

2009-06-30T18:20:37Z

Irenet at 05:30, 29 June 2009

2009-06-29T05:30:47Z

Envoy at 06:16, 2 July 2007

2007-07-02T06:16:14Z

New page

{{Redirect|Baobab}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Baobab
| image = Baobob tree.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = African Baobab
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
| genus = ''Adansonia''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''Baobab''' is the common name of a [[genus]] (''Adansonia'') of eight species of [[tree]]s, native to [[Madagascar]] (the centre of diversity, with six species), mainland [[Africa]] and [[Australia]] (one species in each). The mainland African species also occurs in Madagascar, but it is not a native of that country. Other common names include '''boab''', '''bottle tree''' and '''monkey bread tree'''. The species reach heights of between 5–25 m (exceptionally 30 m) tall, and up to 7 m (exceptionally 11 m) in trunk diameter. They are noted for storing [[water]] inside the swollen trunk, with the capacity to store up to 120,000 litres of water to endure the harsh drought conditions particular to each region [http://www.senegal-online.com/anglais/parcs-faune-flore/baobab.htm]. All occur in seasonally [[arid]] areas, and are [[deciduous]], shedding their [[leaf|leaves]] during the dry season. Some are reputed to be many thousands of years old, though as the [[wood]] does not produce annual [[growth ring]]s, this is impossible to verify; few [[botanist]]s give any credence to these claims of extreme age.

The Malagasy species are important components of the [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]]. Within that [[biome]], ''A. madagascariensis'' and ''A. rubrostipa'' occur specifically in the [[Anjajavy Forest]], sometimes growing out of the [[Karst topography|tsingy]] [[limestone]] itself.

;Species
*''[[Adansonia digitata]]'' – African Baobab (northeastern, central & southern [[Africa]])
*''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'' – Grandidier's Baobab ([[Madagascar]])
*''[[Boab|Adansonia gregorii]]'' (syn. ''A. gibbosa'') – [[Boab]] or Australian Baobab (northwest Australia)
*''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' – Madagascar Baobab (Madagascar)
*''[[Adansonia perrieri]]'' – Perrier's Baobab (North Madagascar)
*''[[Adansonia rubrostipa]]'' (syn. ''A. fony'') – Fony Baobab (Madagascar)
*''[[Adansonia suarezensis]]'' – Suarez Baobab (Diego Suarez, Madagascar)
*''[[Adansonia za]]'' – Za Baobab (Madagascar)

The name ''Adansonia'' honours [[Michel Adanson]], the [[France|French]] naturalist and explorer who described ''A. digitata''.

===Uses===
[[Image:baobabtre_b3599.jpg|thumb|left|''Adansonia digitata'', Tarangire National Park in Tanzania]]
[[Image:Baobab seeds.jpg|thumb|left|The fruit is about 18 cm long]]
The leaves are also common as a [[leaf vegetable]] throughout the area of mainland African distribution, including [[Malawi]], [[Zimbabwe]], and the [[Sahel]]. They are eaten both fresh and in the form of a dry powder. In Nigeria, the leaves are locally known as '''kuka''', and are used to make kuka soup. The dry pulp of the fruit, after separation from the seeds and fibers, is eaten directly or mixed into [[porridge]] or [[milk]]. The seeds are mostly used as a thickener for [[soup]]s, but may also be [[Fermentation (food)|fermented]] into a [[seasoning]], [[roasting|roasted]] for direct consumption, or pounded to extract [[vegetable oil]]. The tree also provides a source of [[fiber|fibre]], [[dye]], and [[fuel]].

The [[Boab]] was used by [[Indigenous Australians]] as a source of water and food; the leaves were used [[medicinal plants|medicinally]]. They also painted and carved the outside of the fruits, and wore them as ornaments. A very large, hollow boab south of [[Derby, Western Australia]] was used in the [[1890s]] as a lockup for Aboriginal prisoners on their way to Derby for sentencing. The [[Boab Prison Tree]] still stands and is now a tourist attraction.

===Cultural references===
* The baobab is the [[national tree]] of [[Madagascar]] [http://www.naturallyafrica.org/country/madagascar/guide/guide-national-symbols
.php].
* The baobab is occasionally known colloquially as "upside-down tree" (from the Arabic legend which claims that the devil pulled out the tree and planted it upside down). This is likely derived from older African lore. The story goes that after creation, each of the animals was given a tree to plant and the stupid hyena planted the baobab upside-down!
* In [[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]]'s story ''[[The Little Prince]]'', the Little Prince was worried that baobabs (described as "trees as big as [[church]]es") would grow on his small [[asteroid]], take up all the space and even cause it to explode.
* [[Rafiki]], in ''[[The Lion King]]'', makes his home in a baobab tree.
* Singer [[Regina Spektor]] has a song called ''Baobabs'' that was released on the special edition of "[[Begin To Hope]]" (2006).
* [[Orchestra Baobab]] is a [[Senegal]]ese band.
* Baobabs are also used for [[bonsai]] (the most popular being ''A. digitata'').
* Progressive metal band [[Mouth of the Architect]] have a song on their album ''The Ties That Blind'' entitled "Baobab".
* [[Classical music]] [[composer]] [[Andi Spicer]] wrote a piece for [[percussion]] quartet called ''Baobab''. There is also a version for [[harpsichord]].
* ''Baobab'' is a serialized graphic novel by Igort, an Italian artist, published in the United States by [[Fantagraphics]] [http://www.fantagraphics.com/ignatz/ignatz.html].
* [[Ernst Haeckel]] mentions "monkey bread-fruit trees (''Adansonia'')" in his ''The History of Creation'' (Chap. 29), and claims that their "individual life exceeds a period of five thousand years."

==References and external links==
{{Commons|Adansonia digitata}}
* Braun, Karl (1900) ''Beiträge zur Anatomie der Adansonia digitata L.'' F. Reinhardt, Universitäts-Buchdruckerei, Basel, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/15926986 OCLC 15926986]
* Baum, David A.; Small Randall L. and Wendel, Jonathan F. (1998) "Biogeography and floral evolution of baobabs (Adansonia, Bombacaceae) as inferred from multiple data sets" ''Systematic Biology'' 47(2): pp. 181-207
* [[Thomas Pakenham|Pakenham, Thomas]] (2004) ''Remarkable Baobab'' Norton, New York, ISBN 0-297-84373-7
* [http://www.baobabs.com/Baobabs_species.htm Jardin Botanique et Pepiniere – Baobab species details]
* [http://www.baobabs.com/Baobabs_photos.htm Jardin Botanique et Pepiniere – Baobab photo gallery]
* [http://www.madainfo.de/baobabs/ Madagascar info: Baobab photo gallery (Malagasy species only)]
* [http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/adansonia.html Baobab: herbal information from ''King's American Dispensatory'']
* [http://www.baobabfruitco.com/Eng/Bibliography.htmL Baobab: Interactive Bibliography]

<gallery>
Image:Baobab Avenue 1.JPG|''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'' near [[Morondava]] in [[Madagascar]]
Image:Derby boab, Western Australia.jpg|Boab ''[[Adansonia gregorii]]'' in Australia
Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in a [[Madagascar dry deciduous forest]]
Image:SavanurBaobab06052007318.jpg| Species Unknown in [[Savanur]], Dharwad District, Karnataka, India
</gallery>

[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{SPlantbox
 |familia=Bombaceae
 |genus=Adansonia
 |Temp Metric=°F
 |jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
-|image=Upload.png
+|image=Adansonia grandidieri04.jpg
-|image_width=240
+|image_width=200
 }}
 {{Inc|
 Adansonia (named after M. Adanson, French botanist). Bombacaceae. A genus of 8 species of tropical shrubs and trees, closely related to Bombax: fls. large, pendulous; petals 5, white, obovate; stamens numerous, united in a column about the styles; ovary 5-10-celled: fr. oblong, woody, indehiscent, filled with a mealy pulp in which are numerous seeds.
@@ Line 81: / Line 63: @@
 {{stub}}
-[[Category:Categorize]]
+__NOTOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:44, 28 September 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|familia=Bombaceae
		+	\|genus=Adansonia
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
		+	\|image=Upload.png
		+	\|image_width=240
		+	}}
	__NOTOC__{{Plantbox		__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
	\| name = ''Adansonia''		\| name = ''Adansonia''

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Inc|
+__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
-Adansonia (named after M. Adanson, French botanist). Bombacaceae. A genus of 10 species of tropical shrubs and trees, closely related to Bombax: fls. large, pendulous; petals 5, white, obovate; stamens numerous, united in a column about the styles; ovary 5-10-celled: fr. oblong, woody, indehiscent, filled with a mealy pulp in which are numerous seeds.
+| name = ''Adansonia''
-}}
+| common_names = Baobab
-{{Redirect|Baobab}}
+| growth_habit = tree
-{{Taxobox
+| high = ?   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
-| color = lightgreen
+| wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
-| name = Baobab
+| origin = ?   <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
 | image = Baobob tree.jpg
-| image_width = 240px
+| image_width = 180px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
 | image_caption = African Baobab
-| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
+| regnum = Plantae
-| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
+| divisio = Magnoliophyta
-| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
+| classis = Magnoliopsida
-| ordo = [[Malvales]]
+| ordo = Malvales
-| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
+| familia = Malvaceae
-| genus = ''Adansonia''
+| genus = Adansonia
-| subdivision_ranks = Species
+}}
-| subdivision = See text
+{{Inc|
 }}
-'''Baobab''' is the common name of a [[genus]] (''Adansonia'') of eight species of [[tree]]s, native to [[Madagascar]] (the centre of diversity, with six species), mainland [[Africa]] and [[Australia]] (one species in each). The mainland African species also occurs in Madagascar, but it is not a native of that country. Other common names include '''boab''', '''bottle tree''' and '''monkey bread tree'''.  The species reach heights of between 5–25&nbsp;m (exceptionally 30&nbsp;m) tall, and up to 7&nbsp;m (exceptionally 11&nbsp;m) in trunk diameter. They are noted for storing [[water]] inside the swollen trunk, with the capacity to store up to 120,000 litres of water to endure the harsh drought conditions particular to each region [http://www.senegal-online.com/anglais/parcs-faune-flore/baobab.htm]. All occur in seasonally [[arid]] areas, and are [[deciduous]], shedding their [[leaf|leaves]] during the dry season. Some are reputed to be many thousands of years old, though as the [[wood]] does not produce annual [[growth ring]]s, this is impossible to verify; few [[botanist]]s give any credence to these claims of extreme age.
+==Cultivation==
-The Malagasy species are important components of the [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]].  Within that [[biome]], ''A. madagascariensis'' and ''A. rubrostipa'' occur specifically in the [[Anjajavy Forest]], sometimes growing out of the [[Karst topography|tsingy]] [[limestone]] itself.
+===Propagation===
-;Species
+===Pests and diseases===
 *''[[Adansonia digitata]]'' – African Baobab (northeastern, central & southern [[Africa]])
 *''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'' – Grandidier's Baobab ([[Madagascar]])
@@ Line 33: / Line 51: @@
 *''[[Adansonia za]]'' – Za Baobab (Madagascar)
-The name ''Adansonia'' honours [[Michel Adanson]], the [[France|French]] naturalist and explorer who described ''A. digitata''.
+==Gallery==
+{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
 <gallery>
@@ Line 72: / Line 59: @@
 Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in a [[Madagascar dry deciduous forest]]
 Image:SavanurBaobab06052007318.jpg| Species Unknown in [[Savanur]], Dharwad District, Karnataka, India
 </gallery>
-[[Category:Malvaceae]]
+==References==
-[[Category:Flora of Madagascar]]
+*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
-[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
+<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
-[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
+<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:30, 29 June 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Adansonia (named after M. Adanson, French botanist). Bombacaceae. A genus of 10 species of tropical shrubs and trees, closely related to Bombax: fls. large, pendulous; petals 5, white, obovate; stamens numerous, united in a column about the styles; ovary 5-10-celled: fr. oblong, woody, indehiscent, filled with a mealy pulp in which are numerous seeds.
		+	}}
	{{Redirect\|Baobab}}		{{Redirect\|Baobab}}
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox