Adansonia madagascariensis
Baill.
Malvaceae
Adansonia bernieri Baill.
Baobabus madagascariensis Kuntze
Common Name:
General Information
Adansonia madagascariensis is a deciduous tree with a sparse, irregular crown; it can grow 10 - 30 metres tall. The swollen bole can be bottle-shaped to cylindrical, or tapering, it is usually unbranched until very near the top[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fibre.
Little is known of the conservation status of this species, but the clearance of its habitat has been extensive in places. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Eastern tropical Africa - Madagascar.
Habitat
Hillsides in dry deciduous forests in well-drained soil[
385- Title
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
]. Dry or moist deciduous forest on limestone, sandstone, and gneiss, sometimes growing within metres of the sea[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a position in full sun[
385- Title
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
]. Found in the wild in well-drained soils[
385- Title
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
]. Established plants are drought tolerant.
A fast-growing tree, it can be 12 - 15 metres tall with a bole 40 - 60cm in diameter after 12 years[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Edible Uses
Edible fruit[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Hard and dry, this is the least palatable fruit in the genus and so is rarely exploited for food[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The globose to subglobose fruit is often broader than it is long (rarely almost ovoid), it is usually less than 10cm long with a thick, very tough, woody. The seeds are distinctly reniform and laterally flattened, 10 - 11mm long by 7 - 9mm wide and up to 6mm thick[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The swollen roots of young seedlings are cooked and eaten. They are said to make an excellent vegetable[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
A fibre is obtained from the bark[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The rapid growth rate of this tree has led to the wood being recommended as a potential commercial source of cellulose[
727- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 82
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal containing various articles, including a monograph of the genus Adansonia (Baobabs). It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
