Adansonia digitata - Baobab

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

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.

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

Properties

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

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Digitate	Alternate	digitately 3- to 9-foliate; leaflets oblong to ovate, 5-15 x 3-7 cm, lower leaflets being the smallest and terminal leaflet the largest; leaflets dark green, softly hairs; lateral veins looping; apex and base tapering, margin entire; petiole up to 12 cm long; petiolule sessile or subsessile.

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 . Stamens many on a large central column . Ovary superior, 5-10 loculed; ovules many

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
	12cm		Fruit ovoid, 12 cm or more in length, with a hard, woody shell, covered with yellowish-grey velvety hairs, indehiscent; seeds smooth, embedded in a whitish powdery pulp.

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. Soaking in water overnight softens the seed coat and makes water absorption for germination easy. When the seed coat is nicked it may take only 6 days to germinate, though it is more likely to be 15 - 40 days. It is preferable to sow the seed directly into the soil. When seedlings emerge it is best to shade them for 8 days, then provide half shade for 4 - 7 days before exposing them to full sun. Seedlings need to be 3 - 4 months old, reaching a height of 40 - 50cm, before transplanting. The seed can be stored for at least 4 years at room temperature with no loss of viability

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical Africa, West coast of India.

Photo Gallery

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  Flower

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  Fruits

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  Leaves

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  Leaves and fruits

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  Open fruit

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  Open fruit

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  Seeds

External Links

• Adansonia digitata on worldagroforestry.org
• Adansonia digitata on sciencedirect.com