Adansonia
Adansonia | |
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Adansonia digitata in Tanzania | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Subfamily: | Bombacoideae |
Genus: | Adansonia L.[1] |
Species | |
See species section |
Adansonia is a
In the early 21st century, baobabs in southern Africa began to die off rapidly from a cause yet to be determined. It is unlikely that disease or pests would be able to kill many trees so rapidly, and some have speculated that the die-off is a result of dehydration.[8][9]
Description
Baobabs are long-lived deciduous, small to large trees from 5 to 30 m (20 to 100 ft) tall[7] with broad trunks and compact crowns. Young trees usually have slender, tapering trunks, often with a swollen base. Mature trees have massive trunks that are bottle-shaped or cylindrical and tapered from bottom to top.[7] The trunk is made of fibrous wood arranged in concentric rings, although rings are not always formed annually and so cannot be used to determine the age of individual trees.[10] Tree diameter fluctuates with rainfall so it is thought that water may be stored in the trunk.[7] Baobab trees have two types of shoots—long, green vegetative ones, and stout, woody reproductive ones. Branches can be massive and spread out horizontally from the trunk or are ascending.
Adansonia gregorii is generally the smallest of the baobabs, rarely getting to over 10 m (33 ft) tall and often with multiple trunks.[7] Both A. rubrostipa and A. madagascariensis are small to large trees, from 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 ft) tall.[7] The other baobabs grow from 25 to 30 m (80 to 100 ft) tall, with 2 to 3 m (7 to 10 ft) diameter trunks. A. digitata, however, often has massive single or multiple trunks of up to 10 m (33 ft) diameter.[7]
Leaves
Leaves are
Flowers
In most Adansonia species, the flowers are born on short erect or spreading stalks in the axils of the leaves near the tips of reproductive shoots. Only A. digitata has flowers and fruits set on long, hanging stalks. There is usually only a single flower in an axil, but sometimes flowers occur in pairs. They are large, showy and strongly scented. They only open near dusk. Opening is rapid and movement of the flower parts is fast enough to be visible. Most Adansonia species are pollinated by bats.[11]
Flowers may remain attached to the trees for several days, but the reproductive phase is very short, with pollen shed during the first night and stigmas shriveled by the morning. The flower is made up of an outer 5-lobed calyx, and an inner ring of petals set around a fused tube of stamens.[7] The outer lobes of the calyx are usually green (brown in A. grandidieri) and in bud are joined almost to the tip. As the flower opens, the calyx lobes split apart and become coiled or bent back (reflexed) at the base of the flower. The inner surface of the lobes are silky-hairy and cream, pink, or red.[7] Sometimes the lobes do not separate cleanly, distorting the shape of the flower as they bend back. The calyx lobes remain fused at the base, leaving a feature (calyx tube) that has nectar-producing tissue and that is cup-shaped, flat or tubular; the form of the calyx tube varies with species.[7] The flowers have a central tube (staminal tube) made up of fused stalks of stamens (filaments), with unfused filaments above. A densely hairy ovary is enclosed in the staminal tube, and a long style tipped with a stigma emerges from the filaments. Petals are set near the base of the staminal tube and are variable in shape and colour. The flowers, when fresh, may be white, cream, bright yellow or dark red, but fade quickly, often turning reddish when dried.[7]
Fruit
The fruit of the baobabs is one of their distinguishing features. It is large, oval-to-round, and berry-like in most species (usually less than 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long in A. madagascariensis.[7]). It has a dry, hard outer shell of variable thickness. In most species, the shell is indehiscent (does not break open easily). A. gibbosa is the only species with fruits that crack while still on the tree, which then tend to break open upon landing on the ground. Inside the outer shell, kidney-shaped seeds 10–15(−20) mm long are set in a dry pulp.[7]
Taxonomy
The earliest written reports of baobab are from a 14th-century travelogue by the Arab traveler
The
Species
As of July 2020[update], there are eight recognized species of Adansonia, with six
Image | Species | Common names | Native range |
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Adansonia digitata L. (also includes Adansonia kilima[12]) | African baobab, dead-rat-tree, monkey-bread-tree, montane African baobab, Gongolaze | western, northeastern, central & southern Africa, SW Asia (Yemen, Oman)[17] | |
Adansonia grandidieri Baill. | Grandidier's baobab, giant baobab | west central Madagascar[18] | |
Adansonia gregorii F.Muell. (syn. A. gibbosa) | boab, Australian baobab, bottletree, cream-of-tartar-tree, gouty-stem | Australia (Northern Territory, Western Australia)[19] | |
Adansonia madagascariensis Baill. | Madagascar baobab | northwest and north Madagascar[20] | |
Adansonia perrieri Capuron | Perrier's baobab | northern Madagascar[20] | |
Adansonia rubrostipa Jum. & H.Perrier (syn. A. fony) | fony baobab | central-to-south part of western Madagascar[20] | |
Adansonia suarezensis H.Perrier | Suarez baobab | northern Madagascar[20] | |
Adansonia za Baill. | za baobab | west and southwest Madagascar[20] |
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".[21] 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.[citation needed]
Ecology
Baobabs store water in the trunk (up to 120,000 litres or 32,000 US gallons) to endure harsh drought conditions.
Baobabs are important as nest sites for birds, in particular the mottled spinetail[23] and four species of weaver.[24]
Notable trees
Two large baobabs growing in
Culinary uses
Leaves
The tree's leaves may be eaten as a leaf vegetable.[21]
Fruit
The white pith in the fruit of the Australian baobab (A. gregorii) tastes like
In Angola, the dry fruit of A. digitata 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.[citation needed] In Zimbabwe, the fruit of A. digitata is eaten fresh or the crushed crumbly pulp is stirred into porridge and drinks.[35] In Tanzania, the dry pulp of A. digitata is added to sugarcane to aid fermentation in brewing (beermaking).[36]
Seed
The seeds of some species are a source of vegetable oil.[37][38] The fruit pulp and seeds of A. grandidieri[37] and A. za are eaten fresh.[38]
Other uses
Some baobab species are sources of fiber, dye, and fuel. Indigenous Australians used the native species A. gregorii for several products, making string from the root fibers and decorative crafts from the fruits.[39] Baobab oil from the seed is also used in cosmetics, particularly in moisturizers.[40]
In culture
Baobab trees hold cultural and spiritual significance in many African societies. They are often the sites of communal gatherings, storytelling, and rituals.[41]
In the novel The Little Prince, the titular character takes care to root out baobabs that try to grow on his tiny planet home. The fearsome, grasping baobab trees, researchers have contended, were meant to represent Nazism attempting to destroy the planet.[42]
Gallery
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Adansonia digitata leaf
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Adansonia digitata flower
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Adansonia pollen
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Adansonia digitata seeds from the fruit
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Baobab powder
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Elements of the fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata (clockwise from top right): whole fruit pulp chunks, fibers, seeds, powder from the pulp
References
- ^ "Genus: Adansonia L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 8 Jul 2020 http://www.tropicos.org Archived 23 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Baobab: Fun Facts About Africa's Tree of Life". ThoughtCo.
- ISBN 978-3-540-00489-9. Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ OCLC 166358049.
- S2CID 47017569.
- ^ JSTOR 2399893.
- ^ a b Yong, Ed (11 June 2018). "Trees That Have Lived for Millennia Are Suddenly Dying". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ a b Nuwer, Rachel (12 June 2018). "Last March of the 'Wooden Elephants': Africa's Ancient Baobabs Are Dying". The New York Times.
- ^ Kornei K (2021). "Scientists determine the age of one of Africa's most famous trees". Science.
- from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ doi:10.1002/tax.616006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Cron, Glynis & Karimi, Nisa & Glennon, Kelsey & Udeh, Chukwudi & Witkowski, E & Venter, Sarah & Assogbadio, A & Baum, David. (2016). "One African baobab species or two? A re-evaluation of Adansonia kilima". South African Journal of Botany. 103. 312. 10.1016/j.sajb.2016.02.036.
- PMID 12064226.
- PMID 33892500.
- ^ "GRIN Species Records of Adansonia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Science, Kew. " https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:558628-1". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- .
- ^ Science, Kew. " https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:558631-1". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Behrens, K. and K. Barnes. 2016. Wildlife of Madagascar. Wild guides, Princeton University Press.
- ^ a b c "Adansonia digitata (baobab)". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ "The Baobab tree in Senegal". Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Weavers breeding in baobabs". Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ PMID 25806967.
- ^ Patrut, A., et al. (2010). Fire history of a giant African baobab evinced by radiocarbon dating. Archived 22 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Radiocarbon 52(2), 717–26.
- ^ "Big Baobab Facts". Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
- ^ Zich, F.A.; Hyland, B.P.M.; Whiffen, T.; Kerrigan, R.A. (2020). "Adansonia gregorii". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ a b c UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (July 2008). "Baobab dried fruit pulp. EC No. 72; August 2006: Application from PhytoTrade Africa to approve baobab dried fruit pulp of African baobab (A. digitata) as a novel food ingredient. Authorised July 2008". UK Food Standards Agency. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Nutrition Facts". nutritionvalue.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- S2CID 23737392.
- S2CID 23498946.
- ^ "Baobab dried fruit pulp". UK Food Standards Agency. 2008. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "GRAS Notice No. GRN 273". US Food and Drug Administration. 25 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ "South African villagers tap into trend for 'superfood' baobab". AFP. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ Sidibe, M., et al. Baobab, Adansonia digitata L. Volume 4 of Fruits for the Future. International Centre for Underused Crops, 2002.
- ^ a b Ambrose-Oji, B., and Mughogho, N. 2007. Adansonia grandidieri Baill. Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine In: van der Vossen, H.A.M., and Mkamilo, G.S. (eds). PROTA 14: Vegetable oils/Oléagineux. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.
- ^ a b Ambrose-Oji, B., and Mughogho, N. 2007. Adansonia za Baill. Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine In: van der Vossen, H.A.M., and Mkamilo, G.S. (eds). PROTA 14: Vegetable oils/Oléagineux. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.
- ^ "Dance of the baob". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 2 February 1966. p. 26. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
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- ^ Reif, Rita. A Charming Prince Turns 50, His Luster Intact, The New York Times, 19 September 1993.