Baobab

1. Description 2. compass Information a. Common Names Afri mickle monkey around-bread tree, play-bread tree, Monkey Bread Tree, spinning top Down Tree, Cream of Tartar Tree b. Scientific Name genus genus genus genus genus Adansonia digitata L. c. Family Name Bombacaceae 3. Species a. Adansonia digitata L. b. Adansonia Grandidieri c. Adansonia Gregorii d. Adansonia Madagascarcariensis e. Adansonia Perrieri f. Adansonia rubrostipa g. Adansonia su bezensis h. Adansonia za 4. Geographical Distri barelyion/Distribution affirm a. Located in Semiarid regions of tropical Africa, including countries south of the Sahara except Liberia, Uganda, Djibouti, Burundi and Central African Republic. . Found in coastal areas of eastern and horse opera Africa c. In East Africa plant in the lowlands 5. Conservation Status 6. grandeur and Use a. Leaves b. Fruit c. Food Uses d. Seeds 7. Environmental Characteristics 8. Morphological Traits and Variation a. Characteristics b. Traits c. transmittab le Variation 9. Threats 10. Socio-economic Value 11. Environmental Impact 12. Effects on indigenous People Adansonias reach heights of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) and put ane all over trunk diameters of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft) Adansonia digitata L. African Baobab (western, northeastern, central & southern Africa, and in Oman and Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, Asia) Adansonia grandidieri Baill. Grandidiers Baobab (Madagascar) Adansonia gregorii F. Muell. (syn. A. gibbosa) Boab or Australian Baobab (northwest Australia) Adansonia madagascariensis Baill. Madagascar Baobab (Madagascar) Adansonia perrieri Capuron Perriers Baobab (North Madagascar) Adansonia rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony) Fony Baobab (Madagascar) Adansonia suarezensis H. Perrier Suarez Baobab (Diego Suarez, Madagascar) Adansonia za Baill. Za Baobab (Madagascar)5 Distributional range Native AFRICA Northeast equatorial Africa Chad Ethiopia Somalia Sudan East equatorial Africa Kenya Tanzania w estern United States-Central Tropical Africa Cameroon Zaire West Tropical Africa Benin Burkina Faso Cote DIvoire Ghana Guinea Mali Niger Senegal Sierra Le hotshot Togo confederation Tropical Africa Angola Malawi Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Southern Africa Botswana Namibia South Africa Transvaal Western Indian Ocean Madagascar Naturalized widely naturalized in tropics Cultivated AFRICA Africa ASIA-TROPICAL Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh India Sri LankaMalesia Indonesia Java SOUTHERN AMERICA Caribbean West Indies South America An Ecosystem Within a Tree The sculptured branches, with their hollows, dents and bloated stems, will shelter and home for a great variety of animals. Galagos (bushbaby), squirrels, rodents, lizards, snakes and maneuver frogs, as well as spiders, scorpions and insects may live out their entire feeling in a single guide. Holes in the trunk provide example nesting sites for birds such as rollers, hornbills, parrots, kestrels and spinetails. Larger cavit ies are frequently occupied by families of Barn Owls or Ground Hornbills.Eagles, vultures and storks frequently build their beginnup stimulate nests on the outer branches, and the colonial nests of Red-billed Buffalo-weavers are more(prenominal) often found in Baobabs than any other manoeuvre. Uses to Mankind For centuries, the baobab tree diagram has contend an important role in the economy and culture of Africa. Practicall(a)y any part of the tree is useful and in Sudan they are so extremely valued that individual trees may be privately owned The woodland itself is too fibrous for structural use but the mouth is tear up into strands of fibre for use as rope, baskets, nets, snares and cloth.Tonics and cosmetics are derived from the roots, and spinach and soup from the large palmate leaves. The beginnings may be ground into a coffee-substitute or eaten unspoiled and the white pulp is utilise as unction of tartar for baking. The hollow short pants of living trees shi t served as homes, storage barns, places of refuge or worship, and crimson as prisons or tombs. One tree at Katimo Mulilo in Namibia has suffered the instead ignominious fate of having been converted into a flush toilet, while one near Gravelotte in South Africas Northern Province was once used as a bar where up to a dozen thirsty gold diggers would quench their thirst.The Future Be ca-ca of its many uses and its ability to survive in semi-arid conditions, the Baobab survives in the face of mans expansion across the continent. Ironically, the tree is plausibly most at risk in wildlife reserves where confined populations of African Elephant may outstrip their resources and demolish and consume baobab trees in their trial for survival. pic Baobabs are trees recognizable by their distinctive narcissistic stems. Occurring course in the dry areas of Magagascar, Africa and Australia, they store massive amounts of water in their stems to cope with mollifyal worker droughts.The tree s takingss are large pods known as monkey bread or cream of tartar fruit and are rich in vitamin C. One baobab tree in South Africa, known as Big Baobab, has a lap of 47 metres and even a bar for 60 mess indoors the trunk. 1. The African tribes call the tree the upside follow up tree. When plunder of leaves, the spreading branches of the Baobab quality like roots sticking up into the air as if it had been planted upside-down. An African legend tells that the baobab was amongst the early trees to appear on Earth.When the palm tree, the flame up tree and the fig tree appeared, the Baobab began to grumble that it wanted to be taller, to have brilliant flame coloured flowers, and bear tasty fruit too. The Gods grew angry at this aeonian wailing and pulled up the tree by its roots, and replanted in upside down to keep it quiet 2. The African baobab tree is also called the tree of life as it can store water during the drought season which is sometimes vital to the rural populati on. Large baobab trees could contain more than 30,000 gallons of water, and to get to it, Kalahari bushmen use hollow pieces of grass like a straw to suck the water out. . The baobab is Africas latest bonny trade sensation. On the 15th July 2008 the European Union has officially approved the export of pulverized baobab fruit to the United Kingdom as a respectable additive to cereal bars and smoothies. The baobab is said to have troika times the vitamin C content of an orange, and as much calcium as a glass of milk. According to Britains University of Southampton, the baobab is rich in vitamin B1, B2, and C, and calcium, sum total its bursting with antioxidants. 4. The citric and tartaric acids found in the pulp provide the build for cream of tartar, often used as a baking ingredient. . Because of their size, batch have been storing supplies in old hollow trunks or have been living inside a Baobab Tree. Have a look at a website called bigbaob for some amazing videos. 6. Natur al medicine uses the bark of the Baobab to lower fevers, chewing a leave is apparently wakeful you up and ingesting some of the tartar powder is helping with stomach aches. 7. In rural Africa the bark is used to make ropes and even clothing. Article book of facts http//EzineArticles. com/4214639 Why the Baobab is endangeredSevere droughts of recent years have affected the poser woodlands of the savannahs and fears have been expressed rough the regeneration of plant species. In Sudan the over-use of utile fruit trees, such as the Baobab, has become a significant problem. in that location is high year-round demand for fruits, even in cities like Khartoum. With fruit being collected from wild stands of trees, stocks are decreasing and no preparedness is made for replacing these trees no plantations have ever been seen in Sudan. In cities seeds are just thrown away as garbage, eliminating any opportunity of regeneration.There is often a lack of awareness by the local volume o n the need to plant, protect and manage under-utilized fruit species. It is believed that in the ancient the Baobab fruits were widely eaten by large animals, especially elephants. They dispersed seeds and broke the seed dormancy which encouraged regeneration. With elephants now in danger of quenching because of habitat destruction and illegal killing, the natural regeneration of Baobab has been severely affected. Practical Action realized the importance of organizing a campaign to bear the endangered species of this region, especially the Baobab tree.Whats the cause? The Baobab tree is on the endangered list for many reasons. For one, droughts within the trees habitat have caused them to not have enough water to grow properly. Also, these trees are often cut down so that people can use the trunks to store water in, which can hold about 2376 gallons of water. The fruit is also used for making porridge as well as the leaves, which can be used to make a salad. Some of these seeds are even eaten by elephants, but the elephants would be able to break the seed dormancy which will cause regeneration however, the population of the elephant is also endangered.Because of all of this, many Baobab trees are used for multiple purposes which then cause the trees population to decline because no one is taking the time to tack the trees that were used. To help regenerate the Baobab Tree, a group known as Practical Action has come about, which aims to save this species of tree before its too late. They collect and plant seeds, raise awareness, and encourage others to plant Baobab trees as well. Read more http//www. toptenz. net/top-10-endangered-trees. phpixzz2Bkpm44sJ Read more at http//www. toptenz. net/top-10-endangered-trees. php8rIWSqRUArdUEQt3. 99The nutrition industry is always looking to launch the close big thing Providing these exotic products for Western palates can be both good and bad for the environment. There is the obvious concern of carbon and transpo rting these products over long distances. However, these new markets allow local farmers and suppliers to enjoy newfound wealth. Deforestation, fair trade, and sustainability are other issues. However, the demand for some fruit trees can contribute in reforestation and afforestation projects. Baobabs,Adansonia sp. , consist of eight species, which are naturally found on the continents of Africa and Australia.Six species are native to Madagascar, so Madagascar has the highest endemism. Mainland Africa and Australia both have one species. The entire genus is spectacular. The first image below shows the giantAdansonia grandidieri, which is endemic to Madagascar. This titan-sized tree is considered endangered. Baobabs are trees recognisable by their distinctive swollen stems. Occurring naturally in the dry areas of Magagascar, Africa and Australia, they store massive amounts of water in their stems to cope with seasonal droughts. The trees fruits are large pods known as monkey bread or cream of tartar fruit and are rich in vitamin C.One baobab tree in South Africa, known as Big Baobab, has a circumference of 47 metres and even a bar for 60 people inside the trunk. Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, sestet native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island. A typical common recognise is baobab. Other common names include boab, boaboa, tabaldi, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree. The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described A. igitata. Baobabs (Adansonia spp. ) are iconic trees, known for their immense size, strange forms, sources of food Baobab trees are iconic plants and represent some of the most recognisable trees in the world. The eight species of baobabs reside in the single genus, Adansonia. Madagascar is their centre of diversity, with six species endemic to the island. These include A. grandidieri, A. madagascariensis, A. perrieri, A. rubrostipa, A. suarezensis and A. za (Baum 1995, Wickens & Lowe 2008) The baobabs are trees of considerable importance in local economies