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Adansonia digitata - Baobab

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Baobab, Adansonia digitata

Adansonia digitata is a succulent, deciduous tree that can grow up to around 20 metres tall. The swollen, urn-shaped bole will eventually become very wide, often exceeding the diameter of the crown and can be up to 10 metres across. This is a true multi-purpose tree with a very wide range of used for local people. There is evidence that the baobab fruit was being sold in the markets of Egypt over 4,500 years ago. It is still widely used by local peoples in the areas of the tropics where it grows wild or is naturalised and is often left standing when land is cleared for cultivation.

Uses

Diabetes, Rheumatism, Inflammation, Fever, Sores, Dysentery [1]

Parts Used

Bark, Fruits, Gum, Roots.

Chemical Composition

Several compounds were isolated from fruit pulp, seed oil, root isolates terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids. 10 Aromatic compounds including isopropyl myristate and nonanal were identified in fruit pulp.[2]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Aane hunase, Brahmaamlika, Muggi maavu
Hindi Gorakh-imli, Gorakh-chinch
Malayalam
Tamil Aanaipuliya maram, Paparapuli
Telugu Brahmamlika, Maggimaavu
Marathi Gorak-chinch, Baubab
Gujarathi
Punjabi
Kashmiri
Sanskrit Chitrala, Choramli
English Baobab

[3]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Digitate Alternate Digitately 3- to 9-foliate; leaflets oblong to ovate, 5-15 x 3-7 cm.

[4]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual Axillary White Many Flowers a waxy white, up to 20 cm in diameter, axillary, solitary, pendulous, bisexual. Calyx deeply lobed, with silky hairs inside; petals crinkly, spreading.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
12cm Fruit ovoid, 12 cm or more in length, with a hard, woody shell.

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds

How to plant/cultivate

Seed - sow in containers. Germination is usually 90-100% and takes 1-3 months at 21c. Germination is more rapid and successful if the seeds are first nicked or boiling water is poured on them, after which they are left to soak for 24 hours.[5]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical Africa, West coast of India.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links