Adansonia digitata
Encyclopedia
Adansonia digitata 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. English common names include baobab, dead-rat tree (from the appearance of the fruits), monkey-bread tree (the soft, dry fruit is edible), upside-down tree (the sparse branches resemble roots) and cream of tartar tree.
The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the 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 shrublands and on the coast. In Angola
and Namibia
, the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. It is also found in Dhofar
region of Oman
and Yemen
in the Arabian Peninsula
, Asia
. This tree is also found in India, particularly in the dry regions of the country.
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The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the savannah
, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age.
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 that 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.
The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.
The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. The vegetable has has been suggested to have the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care.
The African baobab's fruit is 6 to 8 in or 15.2 to 20.3 cm long. It contains 50% more calcium
than spinach, is high in antioxidants, and has three times the vitamin C
of an orange. It is sometimes called a superfruit
. The leaves can be eaten as relish
, while the fruit dissolved in milk or water can be used as a drink. The seeds also produce edible oil.
In 2008, the European Union
approved the use and consumption of baobab fruit as an ingredient in smoothie
s and cereal bars.
The United States Food and Drug Administration granted generally recognized as safe
status to baobab dried fruit pulp as a food ingredient in 2009.
To grow A. digitata from a seed, cutting into the thick seed coat greatly speeds up germination, from months or years to seven days.
Adansonia
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
hs of sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
. It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas. English common names include baobab, dead-rat tree (from the appearance of the fruits), monkey-bread tree (the soft, dry fruit is edible), upside-down tree (the sparse branches resemble roots) and cream of tartar tree.
The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast and in the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
does its occurrence venture naturally into the Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
. On the Atlantic coast, this may be due to spreading after cultivation. Its occurrence is very limited in Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
, and it is found only in the very north of Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. In Eastern Africa, the trees grow also in shrublands and on the coast. In Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. It is also found in Dhofar
Dhofar
The Dhofar region lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border with Yemen. Its mountainous area covers and has a population of 215,960 as of the 2003 census. The largest town in the region is Salalah. Historically, it was the chief source of frankincense in the world. However, its frankincense...
region of Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. This tree is also found in India, particularly in the dry regions of the country.
Growth
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age.
The tree bears very large, heavy, white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
scent and researchers have shown that they appear to be primarily pollinated by fruit bat
Fruit Bat
Fruit Bat can refer to:* Megabats, a species of bat which eats fruit* Les "Fruitbat" Carter, guitarist of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine* Fruit Bats , an American band...
s of the subfamily Pteropodinae
Pteropodinae
Pteropodinae is a subfamily of megabats. Species within this subfamily are:Subfamily Pteropodinae* Genus Acerodon**Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis**Talaud Flying Fox, Acerodon humilis...
. The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread.
The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.
The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. The vegetable has has been suggested to have the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care.
Fruit
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
than spinach, is high in antioxidants, and has three times the vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
of an orange. It is sometimes called a superfruit
Superfruit
Superfruit, a marketing term first used in the food and beverage industry in 2005, refers to a fruit which combines exceptional nutrient richness and antioxidant quality with appealing taste that can stimulate and retain loyalty for consumer products. "Superfruit" has not official U.S. Food and...
. The leaves can be eaten as relish
Relish
A relish is a cooked, pickled, or chopped vegetable or fruit food item which is typically used as a condiment.In North America, relish commonly alludes to sweet pickle relish-like sauce that often condiments hot dogs, hamburgers and other types of fast food.-Description and ingredients:The item...
, while the fruit dissolved in milk or water can be used as a drink. The seeds also produce edible oil.
In 2008, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
approved the use and consumption of baobab fruit as an ingredient in smoothie
Smoothie
A smoothie is a blended and sometimes sweetened beverage made from fresh fruit and in special cases can contain chocolate or peanut butter. In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit, honey or contain syrup and ice ingredients...
s and cereal bars.
The United States Food and Drug Administration granted generally recognized as safe
Generally recognized as safe
Generally recognized as safe is an American Food and Drug Administration designation that a chemical or substance added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act food additive tolerance requirements.-History:On January 1, 1958,...
status to baobab dried fruit pulp as a food ingredient in 2009.
To grow A. digitata from a seed, cutting into the thick seed coat greatly speeds up germination, from months or years to seven days.
External links
- Description and cultural information
- Structured description
- PROTAbase on Adansonia digitata
- Adansonia digitata in Brunken, U., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Janssen, T., Thiombiano, A. & Zizka, G. 2008. West African plants - A Photo Guide. www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de.