Adansonia digitata L. - Baobab

<< View more species << View a different country A mature Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata)

Project activities:

Seed collecteds
Seeds banked in country. Top down view of Trichilia emetica seeds in a storage jar
Banked at the MSB. The front of the Millennium Seed Bank.
Germination tests carried out in country. A seed germinating for a test
Propagated
60
Planted in community gardens or woodlots. A small plant ready to be planted in the field.
38
Research carried out. A MSB miscroscope.
Income generating activity carried out.
Site planted Number of plants
Pilikwe Primary School garden 2
Tsetseng 10ha plot 2
Kacgae primary school 2
Donated to Madam Kwelagobe 3
Donated to Onkgopotse Moreri 2
BCA Nethouse (Saline exp.) 27

Species information

Family:

MALVACEAE

Synonyms:

Vernacular / common names:

Lifeform:

Tree - phanerophyte

Plant description:

a large trunked tree, 12m high, Digitately 5-9 foliate, huge trunk, leaflets elliptic to obvate, sesile

Distribution:

N.E., Central, N.W., Chobe districts, in a mixed bush savannah and in rocky areas. Ass species: S. birrea, B. pilosa, Grasses, Combretum spp., Grewia bicolour. Soil: brown sandy loam, good drainage. GPS: 20 35' 4.73" S; 23 05' 0.71" E. Alt: 1036. & 20 35

Habitat:

Bushveld, grass land and costal dune forest

Uses:

ENVIRONMENT USE:

Shade/Shelter (Stems), Birds and Bees utilise hollow trunks for shelter, Botswana [12]

FOOD:

  • Food additives (Fruits), Fruit pulp and seeds makes fermenting agent, Botswana [12];
  • Fruits [Dessert Fruits] (Fruits), Botswana [1];
  • Other food type (Fruits), Powder inside the fruit can be mixed with milk and to make yoghurt, Botswana [1];
  • Unspecified Food (Seeds), Seeds roasted to make coffee substitute, Botswana [5];
  • Vegetables (Leaves), Leaves cooked as green vegetable, Botswana [1];

MATERIALS:

  • Fibres-Unspecified product (Bark), The fibrous bark is poundedfor use in making ropes and mats, Botswana [12];
  • Tannins/Dyestuffs-Pigments (Roots (incl. Rhizomes etc)), Botswana [12];
  • Wood-Paper (Stems), Botswana [12]

MEDICINES:

  • Ill-defined Symptoms (Bark), The bark has been sold commercially in Europe under the name " Cortex cael cedra" to treat fevers, Botswana [10];
  • Nutritional Disorders (Bark), If the children get very thin, the Batswana cut thebark and tie it around the child's waist so that they will grow stron, like the tree, Botswana [5];

POISONS:

Animal pest control (Fruits), Burning fruit pulp, Botswana [12].

Conservation

Red List:

NE;

CITES:

Not listed

References

  1. 1. Van Wyk, B.; Van Wyk, P. (1997). FIELD GUIDE TO TREES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. Not given [Book]
  2. 5. Heath, A.; Heath R.; Goyder D. (eds.) (2009). FIELD GUIDE TO THE PLANTS OF NORTHERN BOTSWANA INCLUDING THE OKAVANGO DELTA. Not given: 1-588 [Book]
  3. 10. Van Wyk, B.; Van Oudtshoorn, B.; Gericke, N. (2000). MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA. Not given: 1-304 [Book]
  4. 12. Roodt, V. (1998). THE SHELL FIELD GUIDE SERIES: PART I: TREES AND SHRUBS OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA. MEDICINAL USES AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE.. Not given: 1-224 [Book]
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