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Adansonia digitata L. |
| The Baobab,Adansonia digitata, also known as the African baobab, is the species of baobab that is naturally found in mainland Africa. Other species of adansonia trees are found in Australia and Madagascar. The baobab is especially long-lived, with some large individuals still living at well over a thousand years of age. Adansonia digitata is found in hot, dry climates in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has a number of common names, including most commonly Baobab, but also 'dead-rat tree' (from the appearance of the fruits), 'monkey-bread tree' (the soft, dry fruit is edible), and 'upside-down tree' (the sparse branches resemble roots). The tree bears large, heavy white flowers. The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery dry bread. The fruit may be eaten fresh or in its dry state, and it has a tart taste. It can be mixed into water to make a beverage not unlike lemonade. The seeds and leaves are also edible. The bark is useful as a source of fiber for making cloth or bags. The genus name Adansonia is derived from the name of the French naturalist Michel Adanson. The species name digitata refers to human digits or fingers, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind. Information source The image is taken in the mountain range from the Manyara country in Tanzania. Agost de 2005 |