Adansonia grandidieri
Adansonia grandidieri in Morondava
Adansonia grandidieri is a plant of the genus baobabs (Adansonia ) in the mallow family ( Malvaceae ). It resembles Adansonia digitata, but has upright flowers. Native to Madagascar species is exploited intensively there.
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Adansonia grandidieri are massive up to 25 meters tall deciduous trees with smooth bark violet. Full-grown leaves are palmately divided with 5-7 part leaves and sit at up to 10 centimeters long petioles. The felt-like, at first bluish- green leaf blade is lanceolate, 3-9 cm long and 1.4 to 2 inches wide. The leaf margin is serrated.
Inflorescences and flowers
The individual flowers are upright. Their sepals are 4.5 inches long and wide. The ribbon-shaped corolla is white and 4.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. The numerous stamens are fused into a 1 -inch-long tube with 4.5 to 5 centimeters long tips.
The flowering period extends from May to August. The flowers are from West Gabelstreifenmaki ( Phaner pallescens ), a lemur species, pollinated.
Fruit and seeds
The maturing in November / December fruits are elongated and contain kidney-shaped seeds.
The seeds have an oil content of 36-39 percent. The fatty acids are composed of 38 percent palmitic acid, stearic acid, 4 percent, 23 percent and 16 percent oleic acid linoleic acid. In addition there are other rare fatty acids.
Systematics, chromosome number and distribution
Adansonia grandidieri is widely endemic in dry deciduous forests in southwestern Madagascar, between Lac Ihortry ( at Morombe ) and Bereboka ( about 50 kilometers north of Morondava ). It grows mostly near seasonal rivers, lakes and water holes.
The first description was made in 1893 by Henri Ernest Baillon. The species was named in honor of Alfred Grandidier.
The chromosome number.
Use
The fruits and seeds are eaten. From the seeds an oil is extracted for cooking. The fruits are sometimes also fed to animals, which excrete the seeds undigested. From the fibrous bark ropes are made . Sun Dried wood is used for covering roofs.
Endangering
Adansonia grandidieri is classified in the red list of endangered species by the IUCN as' Endangered ( EN ) ".