Adansonia
Adansonia is a genus of made up of eight species of medium to large deciduous trees known as baobabs. They are native to Madagascar, mainland Africa and Australia. Trees have also been introduced to other regions such as Asia. The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described Adansonia digitata. The baobab is also known as the "upside down tree", a name that originates from several myths. They are among the most long-lived of vascular plants and have large flowers that are reproductive for a maximum of 15 hours. The flowers open around dusk; opening so quickly that movement can be detected by the naked eye and are faded by the next morning. The fruits are large, oval to round and berry-like and hold kidney-shaped seeds in a dry, pulpy matrix.
In the early 21st century, baobabs in southern Africa began to die off rapidly from a cause yet to be determined. Scientists believe it is unlikely that disease or pests were able to kill many trees so rapidly, and some speculated that the die-off was a result of dehydration from global warming.
Description
Baobabs reach heights of and have trunk diameters of. The Glencoe baobab, a specimen of A. digitata in Limpopo Province, South Africa, was considered to be the largest living individual, with a maximum circumference of and a diameter of about. The tree has since split into two parts, so the widest individual trunk may now be that of the Sunland baobab, or Platland tree, also in South Africa. The diameter of this tree at ground level is and its circumference at breast height is.Adansonia trees produce faint growth rings, probably annually, but they are not reliable for aging specimens, because they are difficult to count and may fade away as the wood ages. Radiocarbon dating has provided data on a few individuals of A. digitata. The Panke baobab in Zimbabwe was some 2,450 years old when it died in 2011, making it the oldest angiosperm ever documented, and two other trees – Dorslandboom in Namibia and Glencoe in South Africa – were estimated to be approximately 2,000 years old. Another specimen known as Grootboom was dated and found to be at least 1275 years old. Greenhouse gases and global warming appear to be factors reducing baobab longevity.
Species
, there were considered to be eight species of Adansonia, with six endemic to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one native to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island. Baobabs were introduced in ancient times to south Asia and during the colonial era to the Caribbean. They are also present in the island nation of Cape Verde. A ninth species was described in 2012 but is no longer recognized as a distinct species. The African and Australian baobabs are almost identical despite having separated more than 100 million years ago, probably by oceanic dispersal.| Species | Common names | Range |
| Adansonia digitata L. | African baobab, dead-rat-tree, monkey-bread-tree, montane African baobab | western, northeastern, central & southern Africa |
| Adansonia grandidieri Baill. | Grandidier's baobab, giant baobab | Madagascar |
| Adansonia gregorii F.Muell. | boab, Australian baobab, bottletree, cream-of-tartar-tree, gouty-stem | northwestern Australia |
| Adansonia madagascariensis Baill. | Madagascar baobab | Madagascar |
| Adansonia perrieri Capuron | Perrier's baobab | northern Madagascar |
| Adansonia rubrostipa Jum. & H.Perrier | fony baobab | Madagascar |
| Adansonia suarezensis H.Perrier | Suarez baobab | Madagascar |
| Adansonia za Baill. | za baobab | Madagascar |
Habitat
The Malagasy species are important components of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. Within that biome, Adansonia madagascariensis and A. rubrostipa occur specifically in the Anjajavy Forest, sometimes growing out of the tsingy limestone itself. A. digitata has been called "a defining icon of African bushland".The tree also grows wild in Sudan in the regions of Darfur and the state of Kordofan. The locals call it "Gongolaze" and use its fruits as food and medicine and use the tree trunks as reservoirs to save water.
Ecology
Baobabs store water in the trunk to endure harsh drought conditions. All occur in seasonally arid areas, and are deciduous, shedding their leaves during the dry season. Across Africa, the oldest and largest baobabs began to die in the early 21st century, likely from a combination of drought and rising temperatures. The trees appear to become parched, then become dehydrated and unable to support their massive trunks.Baobabs are important as nest sites for birds, in particular the mottled spinetail and four species of weaver.
Food uses
Leaves
Leaves may be eaten as a leaf vegetable.Fruit
- The fruit has a velvety shell and is about the size of a coconut, weighing about, but is not as globular. The white pith in the fruit tastes like sorbet. It has an acidic, tart, citrus flavor. It is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, and phosphorus.
- The dried fruit powder of Adansonia digitata, baobab powder, contains about 11% water, 80% carbohydrates, and modest levels of various nutrients, including riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and phytosterols, with low levels of protein and fats. Vitamin C content, described as variable in different samples, was in a range of per of dried powder.
- In Angola, the dry fruit is usually boiled and the broth is used for juices or as the base for a type of ice cream known as gelado de múcua.
- In Zimbabwe, the fruit is used in traditional food preparations which include "eating the fruit fresh or crushed crumbly pulp to stir into porridge and drinks".
- In the European Union, prior to commercial approval, baobab fruit powder was not available for use as a food ingredient, as legislation from 1997 dictated that foods not commonly consumed in the EU would have to be formally approved first. In 2008, baobab dried fruit pulp was authorized in the EU as a safe food ingredient, and later in the year was granted GRAS status in the United States.
Seed
- The seeds of some species are a source of vegetable oil,
- The fruit pulp and seeds of A. grandidieri and A. za are eaten fresh.
Tree