Knowra Adansonia Adansonia Adansonia is a genus of deciduous trees known as baobabs, native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia. Its species are distinguished by massive trunks that can store water.
Adansonia digitata : A widespread African baobab species with a massive trunk, edible leaves, and nutritious fruit. This is the best-known mainland African member of the genus.
Baobab fruit : The edible fruit of baobab trees, with a hard shell and dry, acidic pulp. Fruit from several Adansonia species is harvested for food and drink.
Madagascar : An island country in the Indian Ocean, separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel. Most Adansonia species are endemic to Madagascar.
Keystone species : A species whose ecological effects are unusually large relative to its abundance. Baobabs provide food, shelter, and nesting sites used by many organisms.
Adansonia grandidieri : A Madagascar baobab species with a tall trunk and a crown of nearly horizontal branches. Its distinctive form is characteristic of Madagascar’s baobab landscapes.
Baobab oil : A vegetable oil pressed from baobab seeds and used in food and personal-care products. Seeds from baobab fruit provide an oil with commercial and household uses.
Africa : The world’s second-largest continent, extending across tropical and temperate climates. Adansonia digitata ranges widely across mainland Africa.
Pollination syndrome : A set of floral traits associated with particular pollinators. Some baobab flowers are adapted to pollination by bats and other nocturnal animals.
Adansonia gregorii : The Australian baobab, a deciduous tree native to northwestern Australia. It is the genus’s sole species native to Australia.
Baobab leaf : The edible leaf of a baobab tree, used fresh or dried in some regional cuisines. Leaves of Adansonia digitata are a traditional food in parts of Africa.
Show all 22