Tars
05-26-2009, 11:42 AM
Coming soon to an arid zone in the U.S.?
NEW YORK TIMES OPED (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/opinion/26starin.html?ref=opinion):
"The tree’s white, powdery fruit is rich in antioxidants, potassium and phosphorus, and has six times as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. The leaves are an excellent source of iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus, and the seeds are packed with protein."
https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/plimagesab/adasondigit.jpg
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata):
"Adansonia digitata, the baobab, is the most widespread of the Adansonia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia) species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna) of sub-Saharan Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa). It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas. The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the Atlantic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean) coast and in the Sudan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan) does its occurrence venture naturally into the Sahel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel). On the Atlantic coast this may be due to spreading after cultivation. Its occurrence is very limited in Central Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Africa) and it is found only in the very north of Southern Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Africa). In Eastern Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Africa) the trees grow also in shrublands (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrubland) and on the coast. In Angola (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola) and Namibia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia) the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the savannah, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age. A specimen in Limpopo Province (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpopo_Province), South Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa), often considered the largest example alive, has a circumference (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumference) of 47 metres (150 ft) and an average diameter of 15 metres (49 ft). Carbon dating has been used to estimate the age of the specimens at approximately 6000 years.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata#cite_note-0)</sup> The tree bears very large, heavy white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a carrion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrion) scent and researchers have shown they appear to be primarily pollinated by fruit bats (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_bat) of the subfamily Pteropodinae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteropodinae). The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata#cite_note-1)</sup>
The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.
The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. It has been suggested that the vegetable has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare."
www.plantzafrica.com (https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/adansondigit.htm):
"Large baobab trees with hollow stems have been used by people for centuries for various purposes including houses, prisons, pubs, storage barns, and even as bus stops! A big tree in the old Transvaal region is recorded as once being used as a dairy.
Another tree near Leydsdorp was used as a bar (known as the Murchison Club) and utilized by prospectors and miners during the gold rush of the late 19th century. One such tree in the Caprivi Strip was converted into a toilet, complete with a flushing system. Rainwater often collects in the clefts of the large branches, and travelers and local people often use this valuable source of water. It has been recorded that in some cases the centre of the tree is purposely hollowed out to serve as a reservoir for water during the rainy season. One such reservoir was recorded as holding 4 546 litres of water. A hole is drilled in the trunk and a plug inserted so that water can be easily retrieved by removing the plug. The roots of the baobab can also be tapped for water.
African honey bees (Apis mellifera) often utilize hollows in the baobab to make their hives. One can often see a 'ladder' of pegs hammered into the trunk which is used by seasonal honey harvesters to gain access to the hives.
The leaves are said to be rich in vitamin C, sugars, potassium tartrate, and calcium. They are cooked fresh as a vegetable or dried and crushed for later use by local people. The sprout of a young tree can be eaten like asparagus. The root of very young trees is also reputed to be edible. The seeds are also edible and can also be roasted for use as a coffee substitute. Caterpillars, which feed on the leaves, are collected and eaten by African people as an important source of protein. Wild animals eat the fallen leaves and fresh leaves are said to be good fodder for domestic animals. The fallen flowers are relished by wild animals and cattle alike. When the wood is chewed, it provides vital moisture to relieve thirst, humans as well as certain animals eat it in times of drought."
NEW YORK TIMES OPED (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/opinion/26starin.html?ref=opinion):
"The tree’s white, powdery fruit is rich in antioxidants, potassium and phosphorus, and has six times as much vitamin C as oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. The leaves are an excellent source of iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus, and the seeds are packed with protein."
https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/plimagesab/adasondigit.jpg
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata):
"Adansonia digitata, the baobab, is the most widespread of the Adansonia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia) species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna) of sub-Saharan Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa). It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas. The northern limit of its distribution in Africa is associated with rainfall patterns; only on the Atlantic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean) coast and in the Sudan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan) does its occurrence venture naturally into the Sahel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel). On the Atlantic coast this may be due to spreading after cultivation. Its occurrence is very limited in Central Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Africa) and it is found only in the very north of Southern Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Africa). In Eastern Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Africa) the trees grow also in shrublands (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrubland) and on the coast. In Angola (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola) and Namibia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia) the baobabs grow in woodlands, and in coastal regions, in addition to savannahs. The trees usually grow as solitary individuals, and are large and distinctive trees on the savannah, in the scrub, and near settled areas, with some large individuals living to well over a thousand years of age. A specimen in Limpopo Province (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpopo_Province), South Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa), often considered the largest example alive, has a circumference (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumference) of 47 metres (150 ft) and an average diameter of 15 metres (49 ft). Carbon dating has been used to estimate the age of the specimens at approximately 6000 years.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference">[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata#cite_note-0)</sup> The tree bears very large, heavy white flowers. The showy flowers are pendulous with a very large number of stamens. They carry a carrion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrion) scent and researchers have shown they appear to be primarily pollinated by fruit bats (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_bat) of the subfamily Pteropodinae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteropodinae). The fruits are filled with pulp that dries, hardens, and falls to pieces which look like chunks of powdery, dry bread.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata#cite_note-1)</sup>
The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind.
The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. It has been suggested that the vegetable has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare."
www.plantzafrica.com (https://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/adansondigit.htm):
"Large baobab trees with hollow stems have been used by people for centuries for various purposes including houses, prisons, pubs, storage barns, and even as bus stops! A big tree in the old Transvaal region is recorded as once being used as a dairy.
Another tree near Leydsdorp was used as a bar (known as the Murchison Club) and utilized by prospectors and miners during the gold rush of the late 19th century. One such tree in the Caprivi Strip was converted into a toilet, complete with a flushing system. Rainwater often collects in the clefts of the large branches, and travelers and local people often use this valuable source of water. It has been recorded that in some cases the centre of the tree is purposely hollowed out to serve as a reservoir for water during the rainy season. One such reservoir was recorded as holding 4 546 litres of water. A hole is drilled in the trunk and a plug inserted so that water can be easily retrieved by removing the plug. The roots of the baobab can also be tapped for water.
African honey bees (Apis mellifera) often utilize hollows in the baobab to make their hives. One can often see a 'ladder' of pegs hammered into the trunk which is used by seasonal honey harvesters to gain access to the hives.
The leaves are said to be rich in vitamin C, sugars, potassium tartrate, and calcium. They are cooked fresh as a vegetable or dried and crushed for later use by local people. The sprout of a young tree can be eaten like asparagus. The root of very young trees is also reputed to be edible. The seeds are also edible and can also be roasted for use as a coffee substitute. Caterpillars, which feed on the leaves, are collected and eaten by African people as an important source of protein. Wild animals eat the fallen leaves and fresh leaves are said to be good fodder for domestic animals. The fallen flowers are relished by wild animals and cattle alike. When the wood is chewed, it provides vital moisture to relieve thirst, humans as well as certain animals eat it in times of drought."