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baobab

Scientific Name: Adansonia digitata

Family: Bombacaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       
Baobab: The "Tree of Life" and Nutritional Powerhouse

The Baobab, often called the "Tree of Life," is a fascinating tree gaining recognition for its nutritional properties and unique appearance. With increasing interest in its fruit in various countries, let's explore the world of the Baobab.

Considerations for Children

  • Baobab fruit comes from a tree that can grow up to 25 meters tall.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Adansonia
  • Common Name: Baobab
  • The generic name Adansonia honors Michel Adanson, a French naturalist who observed the tree in Senegal around 1750. The species Adansonia digitata is also referenced.

Distribution and Habitat

  • The Baobab is primarily found in the savannas of Africa, particularly in southern Africa, and also in India, typically around the equator.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Baobabs are recognizable by their distinctive swollen stems.
  • The trees can grow up to 25 meters tall, with branches forming a roof spanning over 20 meters in diameter.
  • The fruit is described as a curious-looking greenish pod, and has a hard shell.

Uses and Products

  • Baobab fruit is considered a "superfood" and is valued for its nutritional content.
  • The fruit is used to create baobab powder, a raw fruit powder used in smoothies, curries, cereals, and marinades.
  • Baobab extract is used in juices and snacks.
  • The bark has been used for other purposes.

Quirky Facts

  • The Sunland "Big Baobab" in Limpopo Province, South Africa, is famous for being the widest of its species in the world.
  • Baobab is pronounced "BEY-oh-Bab."

Further Information

  • Disk Usage Analyzer (Baobab) is available at https://git.gnome.org/browse/baobab/plain/.