94,129
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{SPlantbox
| name = ''Adansonia digitata''
|familia=Bombaceae
| common_names = <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
|genus=Adansonia
| growth_habit = tree
|species=digitata
| high = ? <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
|common_name=Baobab
| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| origin = ? <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
|habit=tree
| poisonous = <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| lifespan = <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
|Max ht box=50
| exposure = ? <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
|Max ht metric=ft
| water = ? <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
|Max wd box=90
| hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
|Max wd metric=ft
| bloom = <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| usda_zones = ? <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
|lifespan=perennial
| sunset_zones = <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| color = IndianRed
|exposure=sun
| image = Baobab and elephant, Tanzania .jpg
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
|features=flowers
| image_caption = Baobab tree in Tanzania
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flowers=white
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=11
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|image=Baobab and elephant, Tanzania .jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Baobab tree in Tanzania
}}
}}
'''''Adansonia digitata''''', the '''baobab''', is the most widespread of the ''[[Adansonia]]'' species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry [[savanna]]hs of [[sub-Saharan Africa]]. It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas. The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast and in the [[Sudan]] does its occurrence venture naturally into the [[Sahel]]. On the Atlantic coast this may be due to spreading after cultivation. Its occurrence is very limited in [[Central Africa]] and it is found only in the very north of [[Southern Africa]]. In [[Eastern Africa]] the trees grow also in [[Scrubland|shrublands]] and on the coast. In [[Angola]] and [[Namibia]] the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. Also found in [[Dhofar]] region of [[Oman]] and [[Yemen]] in the [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[Asia]]. This tree was found recently in India in the states of [[Andhra Pradesh]] (although this claim is disputed)<ref>{{cite web|title=[http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mysterious-tree.shtml Mysterious carved tree hoax]|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref> and in [[Karnataka]] <ref name="Deccannews">{{cite web|title=[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/72901/rare-endangered-tree-found-belgaum.html Rare,endangered tree found in Belgaum district]|publisher= Deccan Herald|date=2010-06-01|accessdate=2010-06-04}}</ref>
The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the [[savannah]], in the [[scrubland|scrub]], and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Varmah |first= J. C. |last2= Vaid |first2= K. M. |title= Baobab - the historic African tree at Allahbad |journal= Indian Forester |volume= 104 |issue= 7 |year= 1978 |pages= 461–464}}</ref>
The tree bears very large, heavy white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a [[carrion]] scent and researchers have shown they appear to be primarily pollinated by [[fruit bat]]s of the subfamily [[Pteropodinae]]. The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread.<ref>{{cite book |authorlink= |author=National Research Council |editor= |others= |title=Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits |origdate= |url=http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879 |format= |accessdate=July 15, 2008 |edition= |series=Lost Crops of Africa |volume=3 |date=January 25, 2008 |publisher=[[National Academies Press]] |location= |isbn=978-0-309-10596-5 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter=Baobab |chapterurl=http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879&page=41 |quote= |ref= }}</ref>
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
[[Adansonia]] digitata, Linn. Baobab Tree. Figs. 118, 119. Height not more than 60 ft.: diam. said to be sometimes 30 ft. or more and to have the thickest trunk of any tree in the world: lvs. palmate, with 3 lfts. in young plants, and 5-7 in older ones: fls. 6 in. across, with purplish anthers, on long axillary, solitary peduncles; stigma 7-10-rayed in full anthesis. Afr. B.M. 2791- 2792. G.C. III. 27:57.—Rarely cult, in extreme S. Fla., where fr. is 9-12 in. long, and called "monkey's bread." Figs. 118 and 119 are from specimens growing in the American tropics. The fl. opens wide, something like a spreading hibiscus, and the petals soon roll back and wither, as shown in Fig. 119. The tree is very thick-boled, and the wood is soft and light. The tree is supposed to attain to vast age. The fr. of the baobab is a gourd-like structure, of which the pulp is said sometimes to be eaten and the juice used for the making of a beverage. The bark produces a very strong fiber.{{SCH}}
[[Adansonia]] digitata, Linn. Baobab Tree. Height not more than 60 ft.: diam. said to be sometimes 30 ft. or more and to have the thickest trunk of any tree in the world: lvs. palmate, with 3 lfts. in young plants, and 5-7 in older ones: fls. 6 in. across, with purplish anthers, on long axillary, solitary peduncles; stigma 7-10-rayed in full anthesis. Afr.—Rarely cult, in extreme S. Fla., where fr. is 9-12 in. long, and called "monkey's bread." Figs. 118 and 119 are from specimens growing in the American tropics. The fl. opens wide, something like a spreading hibiscus, and the petals soon roll back and wither. The tree is very thick-boled, and the wood is soft and light. The tree is supposed to attain to vast age. The fr. of the baobab is a gourd-like structure, of which the pulp is said sometimes to be eaten and the juice used for the making of a beverage. The bark produces a very strong fiber.{{SCH}}
}}
}}
Image:thos baines00.jpg|<center>Baobab Tree by [[Thomas Baines]]</center>
Image:thos baines00.jpg|<center>Baobab Tree by [[Thomas Baines]]</center>
Image:Adansonia digitata 20050823 flower.gif|<center>Baobab flower</center>
Image:Adansonia digitata 20050823 flower.gif|<center>Baobab flower</center>
File:Adansonia digitata (Baobab Tree) in Hyderabad W IMG 8271.jpg|Each leaf comprises five leaflets.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{stub}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__