Adansonia

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Adansonia is a genus of leaf trees known as baobabs . They are found in the dry areas of Madagascar, mainland Africa, Arabia, and Australia. This generic name honors Michel Adanson, naturalist and French explorer who describes Adansonia digitata .

Of the nine species received in April 2018, six are from Madagascar, two are from the mainland of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one is a native of Australia. One of the mainland African species also occurs in Madagascar, but this is not a native of the island. It was introduced in ancient times to southern Asia and during the colonial era to the Caribbean. He is also present in the island of Cape Verde. The ninth species is depicted in 2012, and is found in the southern and eastern populations of southern Africa. The Baobab of Africa and Australia is almost identical although it has been separated more than 100 million years ago, possibly by the deployment of the oceans.

In the early 21st century, the baobab in South Africa began to die quickly from an undetermined cause. Scientists believe that it is unlikely that diseases or pests can kill many trees very quickly, while some predict that death is due to dehydration from global warming.

Video Adansonia

Description
Baobab reaches a height of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) and has a stem diameter of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft). The Glencoe baobab, the specimen of A. digitata in the Province of Limpopo, South Africa, is considered the largest living individual, with a maximum circumference of 47 m (154 ft) and diameter of about 15.9 m (52 â€‹â€‹feet). The tree has been divided into two parts, so the largest individual trunk now possible from the Sunland baobab, or the Platland tree, as well as in South Africa. The diameter of this tree at ground level is 9.3 m (31 ft) and its circumference at the height of the breast is 34 m (112 ft).
Adansonia trees produce weak growth rings, maybe every year, but they are unreliable for aging specimens, because they are difficult to quantify and can fade with age wood. The radiocarbon dating has provided data to some individuals. A specimen of the A. digitata known as the Grootboom is dated and found to be at least 1275 years old, making it one of the oldest known angiosperm trees. Baobab Panke in Zimbabwe is about 2,500 years old when it died in 2011, and two other trees - Dorslandboom in Namibia and Glencoe in South Africa - are estimated to be around 2,000 years old. Greenhouse gases, climate change, and global warming seem to be a factor that reduces the long life of the baobab.
Maps Adansonia

Species
Species include:

Adansonia digitata - African baobabs, dead-mouse trees, monkey-bread trees (west, northeast, middle & southern Africa, in Oman and Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, Asia and in Penang, Malaysia)

Adansonia grandidieri Baill. - Baobab Grandidier, giant baobab (Madagascar)

Adansonia gregorii F.Muell. (syn. A. gibbosa) - boab, baobab Australia, bottletree, cream-of-tartar -tiga, gout-young (northwest Australia)

Adansonia tor Pettigrew, et al. - African baobab montane (east & south africa)

Adansonia madagascariensis Baill. - Madagascar baobab (Madagascar)

Adansonia perrieri Capuron - Baobab Perrier (northern Madagascar)

Adansonia rubrostipa Fri. & amp; H.Perrier (syn. A. Fony ) - fony baobab (Madagascar)

Adansonia suarezensis H.Perrier - Suarez baobab (Madagascar)

Adansonia za Baill. - za baobab (Madagascar)

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Habitat
Malagasy species is an important component of Madagascar's dry dry forest. In the biome, Adansonia madagascariensis and A. rubrostipa occur specifically in the Anjajavy Forest, sometimes growing from the tsingy limestone itself. A. digitata has been called "the icon that defines Africa bushland".
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Ecology

Baobab stores water in the trunk (up to 120,000 liters or 32,000 gallons US) to bear severe drought conditions. All occur in the dry season, and fall, leaving their leaves during the dry season. Across Africa, the oldest and largest baobabs began to die early in the 21st century, possibly due to a combination of drought and rising temperatures. The trees appear to be dry, then become dry and can not support their large trunks.

Baobab is very important as a bird nest site, especially the spotted speckle and four species of weavers.

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Food usage

The fruit has a velvety shell and is about the size of a coconut, weighing about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), but not round. It has a sour, sour, orange taste. It is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, and phosphorus.

The dried fruit powder of baobab powder contains about 12% water and low levels of various nutrients, including carbohydrates, pectins, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and phytosterols, with low levels of protein and fat. Vitamin C content, described as variables in different samples, is in the range of 74 to 163 milligrams (1.14 to 2.52 grams) per 100 grams (3.5 oz) of dry powder. White pulp powder can be used as a "thickener in jam and gravies [...] or the addition of sharp flavor to hot sauce".

In the European Union (EU), prior to commercial approval, baobab powder is not available for food use, as the law of 1997 dictates that food not commonly consumed in the EU must be officially approved. In 2008, baobab dried fruit pulp was authorized in the EU as a safe food ingredient , and then in that year was granted the status of GRAS ( generally recognized as safe ) in the UK. Union.

Regionally

In Tanzania, the dried pulp of A. digitata is added to sugarcane to help ferment in brewing. In Angola, dried fruit is usually boiled and broth is used for juice or as a base for the type of ice cream known as gelado de mÃƒÆ'Ã‚Âºcua. In Zimbabwe, fruits are used in traditional food preparations that include "eating fresh fruit or crushed pulp to stir into mush and beverage". Malawi women have set up commercial businesses to harvest baobab to get their children's school tuition.

Fresh fruit, seeds, leaves

Pulp and fruit seeds A. grandidieri and A. za are eaten fresh. Fresh fruit is said to taste like sorbet. The seeds of some species are a source of vegetable oil, and their leaves can be eaten as leafy vegetables.

Adansonia grandidieri - buy seeds at rarepalmseeds.com

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Other uses

Some baobab species are a source of fiber, dyes, and fuels. Indigenous Australians use native species A. gregorii for some products, making ropes of root fibers and decorative crafts from fruits.