Common Name: Baobab

General Information

Baobab is a deciduous tree with a sparse, irregular crown; it can grow from 5 - 15 metres tall[]. The tree often has multiple trunks, these are swollen, somewhat bottle-shaped and can be up to 6 metres in diameter[].
The edible seeds and fruits are harvested from the wild for local use. The tree is grown commercially in Spain as a source of 'Cream of Tartar'[]. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Northern Territory, Western Australia.

Habitat

Sandy and loamy soils[]. Edges of dry vine thickets, monsoon vine forests, open plains and rocky ridges[].Often found near the sea, at elevations up to 400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Moths
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the semi-arid to moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 34°c, but can tolerate 13 - 42°c[]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, whilst young growth is killed at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 450 - 2,000mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a light to medium soil, succeeding in soils of low fertility[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[]. Established plants are drought tolerant.
A long-lived tree, some specimens are probably between 500 - 1,000 years old[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or roasted[, , ]. Exceptionally rich in minerals[].
Young seedlings can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Immature fruits - roasted[]. The pulp of the fully ripe fruits is also eaten, it has a somewhat acid flavour[].

The sap is dissolved in water to make a drink[, ].

The pith of the trunk is sometimes eaten in times of desperation[]. The water-rich wood has been used as an emergency water source[].

Medicinal

The fruit is antiscorbutic[].

Other Uses

The brittle fruits are like velvety cricket balls; they can be carved decoratively[].

The pollen has been used to make a glue[].

The fibrous bark has been used to make a rope[].

The wood is soft, porous, spongy, and somewhat fibrous[].

Propagation

Seed - germinates readily[]. Another report says that the best way to get the seed to germinate is to scarify it. This is done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. It is quite likely that fresh seed germinates well but stored seed requires scarification[].
Cuttings.

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