Baobab

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The baobabs (Adansonia), occasionally known colloquially as "monkey-bread trees", are a genus of eight species of trees, native to Madagascar (the centre of diversity, with six species), and Africa and Australia (one species in each). The species reach heights of between 5-25 m (exceptionally 30 m) tall, and up to 7 m (exceptionally 11 m) in trunk diameter. They are noted for storing water inside the swollen trunk. All occur in seasonally arid areas, and are deciduous, shedding their leaves during the dry season. Some are reputed to be many thousands of years old, though as the wood does not produce annual growth rings, this is impossible to verify; few botanists give any credence to these claims of extreme age.

Related Topics:
Genus - Tree - Madagascar - Africa - Australia - Water - Arid - Deciduous - Leaves - Wood - Growth ring - Botanist

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;Species

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• Adansonia digitata - African Baobab (northeastern, central & southern Africa)
• Adansonia grandidieri - Grandidier's Baobab (Madagascar)
• Adansonia gregorii (syn. A. gibbosa) - Boab or Australian Baobab (northwest Australia)
• Adansonia madagascariensis - Madagascan Baobab (Madagascar)
• Adansonia perrieri - Perrier's Baobab (Madagascar)
• Adansonia rubrostipa (syn. A. fony) - Fony Baobab (Madagascar)
• Adansonia suarezensis - Suarez Baobab (Madagascar)
• Adansonia za - Za Baobab (Madagascar)
 
Baobab: Uses ►