Difference between revisions of "Adansonia"

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{{Redirect|Baobab}}
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{{SPlantbox
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{{Taxobox
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|familia=Bombaceae
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| color = lightgreen
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|genus=Adansonia
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| name = Baobab
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| image = Baobob tree.jpg
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|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!
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| image_width = 240px
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|image=Adansonia grandidieri04.jpg
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| image_caption = African Baobab
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|image_width=200
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
 
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
 
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
 
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| ordo = [[Malvales]]
 
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| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
 
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| genus = ''Adansonia''
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
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| subdivision = See text
 
 
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'''''Adansonia''''' is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to [[Madagascar]], one native to mainland [[Africa]] and one to [[Australia]]. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island.
  
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'''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.
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A typical common name is '''baobab'''. Other common names include boab, boaboa, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree. The generic name honours [[Michel Adanson]], the French naturalist and explorer who described ''A. digitata''.
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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.
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Adansonias reach heights of {{convert|5|to|30|m|ft}} and have trunk diameters of {{convert|7|to|11|m|ft}}. [[Glencoe Baobab]] - an [[African Baobab]] specimen in [[Limpopo Province]], [[South Africa]], often considered the largest example alive, up to recent times had a [[circumference]] of {{convert|47|m|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigbaobab.co.za/baobab.html |title=Big Baobab Facts|accessdate=2008-01-08}}</ref> Its diameter is estimated at about {{convert|15.9|m|ft}}. Recently the tree split up into two parts and it is possible that the stoutest tree now is [[Sunland Baobab]], also in South Africa. Diameter of this tree is 10.64 m, approximate circumference - 33.4 metres.
  
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;Species
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Some baobabs are reputed to be many thousands of years old, which is difficult to verify as the [[wood]] does not produce annual [[growth ring]]s, though [[radiocarbon dating]] may be able to provide age data.
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{{Inc|
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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.
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{{SCH}}
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}}
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==Cultivation==
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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==Species==
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;Species{{wp}}
 
*''[[Adansonia digitata]]'' – African Baobab (northeastern, central & southern [[Africa]])
 
*''[[Adansonia digitata]]'' – African Baobab (northeastern, central & southern [[Africa]])
 
*''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'' – Grandidier's Baobab ([[Madagascar]])
 
*''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'' – Grandidier's Baobab ([[Madagascar]])
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*''[[Adansonia za]]'' – Za Baobab (Madagascar)
 
*''[[Adansonia za]]'' – Za Baobab (Madagascar)
  
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The name ''Adansonia'' honours [[Michel Adanson]], the [[France|French]] naturalist and explorer who described ''A. digitata''.
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery -->
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===Uses===
 
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[[Image:baobabtre_b3599.jpg|thumb|left|''Adansonia digitata'', Tarangire National Park in Tanzania]]
 
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[[Image:Baobab seeds.jpg|thumb|left|The fruit is about 18 cm long]]
 
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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]].
 
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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.
 
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===Cultural references===
 
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* The baobab is the [[national tree]] of [[Madagascar]] [http://www.naturallyafrica.org/country/madagascar/guide/guide-national-symbols
 
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.php].
 
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* 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!
 
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* 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.
 
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* [[Rafiki]], in ''[[The Lion King]]'', makes his home in a baobab tree.
 
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* Singer [[Regina Spektor]] has a song called ''Baobabs'' that was released on the special edition of "[[Begin To Hope]]" (2006).
 
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* [[Orchestra Baobab]] is a [[Senegal]]ese band.
 
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* Baobabs are also used for [[bonsai]] (the most popular being ''A. digitata'').
 
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* Progressive metal band [[Mouth of the Architect]] have a song on their album ''The Ties That Blind'' entitled "Baobab".
 
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* [[Classical music]] [[composer]] [[Andi Spicer]] wrote a piece for [[percussion]] quartet called ''Baobab''. There is also a version for [[harpsichord]].
 
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* ''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].
 
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* [[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."
 
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==References and external links==
 
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{{Commons|Adansonia digitata}}
 
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* Braun, Karl (1900) ''Beiträge zur Anatomie der Adansonia digitata L.'' F. Reinhardt, Universitäts-Buchdruckerei, Basel, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/15926986 OCLC 15926986]
 
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* 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
 
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* [[Thomas Pakenham|Pakenham, Thomas]] (2004) ''Remarkable Baobab'' Norton, New York, ISBN 0-297-84373-7
 
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* [http://www.baobabs.com/Baobabs_species.htm Jardin Botanique et Pepiniere &ndash; Baobab species details]
 
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* [http://www.baobabs.com/Baobabs_photos.htm Jardin Botanique et Pepiniere &ndash; Baobab photo gallery]
 
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* [http://www.madainfo.de/baobabs/ Madagascar info: Baobab photo gallery (Malagasy species only)]
 
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* [http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/adansonia.html Baobab: herbal information from ''King's American Dispensatory'']
 
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* [http://www.baobabfruitco.com/Eng/Bibliography.htmL Baobab: Interactive Bibliography]
 
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in a [[Madagascar dry deciduous forest]]
 
Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in a [[Madagascar dry deciduous forest]]
 
Image:SavanurBaobab06052007318.jpg| Species Unknown in [[Savanur]], Dharwad District, Karnataka, India
 
Image:SavanurBaobab06052007318.jpg| Species Unknown in [[Savanur]], Dharwad District, Karnataka, India
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Image:baobabtre_b3599.jpg|''Adansonia digitata'', Tarangire National Park in Tanzania
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Image:Baobab seeds.jpg|The fruit is about 18 cm long
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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[[Category:Malvaceae]]
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==References==
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[[Category:Flora of Madagascar]]
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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{{stub}}
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 02:08, 4 November 2010


Adansonia grandidieri04.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Bombaceae >

Adansonia >


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!


Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island.

A typical common name is baobab. Other common names include boab, boaboa, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree. The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described A. digitata. Template:TOC limit

Adansonias reach heights of 5 to 30 m and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11 m. Glencoe Baobab - an African Baobab specimen in Limpopo Province, South Africa, often considered the largest example alive, up to recent times had a circumference of 47 m ft .[1] Its diameter is estimated at about 15.9 m ft . Recently the tree split up into two parts and it is possible that the stoutest tree now is Sunland Baobab, also in South Africa. Diameter of this tree is 10.64 m, approximate circumference - 33.4 metres.

Some baobabs are reputed to be many thousands of years old, which is difficult to verify as the wood does not produce annual growth rings, though radiocarbon dating may be able to provide age data.


Read about Adansonia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

Specieswp

Gallery

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References

External links


  1. ↑ "Big Baobab Facts". Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
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