PLANTS OF BAOBAB - ADANSONIA DIGITATA

Large tropical tree with white pendulous flowers but in our countries it is used as pot plant. Large, dark-green leaves. Bonsai.

It is a slow-rate growing deciduous tree in its early life. It can reach 12m. It is paunchy as its trunk is 10m in diametre when adult with wide open canopy. Large flowers, white and very scented. They produce a big hairy, yellowish and egg-shaped fruit. The husk is hard and contains the seeds.

Numerous medicinal and culinary purposes. The leaves are eaten cooked for human and is also a good fodder. The fruit produces refreshing drinks. The white powder of its fruit is dissolved with water to cure fever, dysentery and to replace quinine. The spungy trunk is an authentic water tank as it can contain 90,000 litres of water. A food oil is extracted from its seeds. The toasted seeds replace coffee. Rich in phosphate they are the main ingredient in the prooduction of soap and fertiliser. The bark is used to make ropes and the sap is used for paper.