Adansonia rubrostipa
Adansonia rubrostipa at Mangily
Adansonia rubrostipa is a plant of the genus baobabs (Adansonia ) in the subfamily of the silk-cotton tree crops ( Bombacoideae ) within the family (Malvaceae ). It resembles Adansonia digitata, is much smaller and has yellow flowers.
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Adansonia rubrostipa are small, cylindrical to flask-shaped deciduous trees with purple smooth bark, the plant height from 4 to 12 meters (rarely to 20 m ) reach. The main branches of the irregularly shaped tree crown grow horizontally and almost always end up upright spikes. Full-grown leaves are palmately divided, with three to five part leaves and 3-7 cm long petioles. The bare, sessile leaves are lanceolate - ovate part, usually 4-6, rarely 8 to 13 centimeters long and 1.2 to 2 inches wide. The leaf margin is serrated.
Flowers
The flowers are individually maintained in the leaf axils at the ends of the branches. The green flower stems are 1 to 2.5 cm long. The hermaphrodite, radial symmetry, large, showy, fragrant flowers are fünfzählig and 16 to 28 cm long. Your five 15 to 25 centimeters long and 0.7 to 1.2 centimeters wide, yellowish green sepals are fused together into a short -tubular calyx, the outside has reddish stripes. The five free, linealischen to broad overlapping petals at their base, are bright yellow to orange - yellow and 12 to 15 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide. The numerous stamens are fused to a 5 to 10 cm long tube with 5 to 8 inches long tips. The about 7.5 mm long ovary has golden hair. The pink pen has a length 20 to 25 cm, has hair at the base and fits tightly into the stamen tube. The first red and later blackish discoloring scar consists of five to eight unequal, spreading lobes.
The flowering period extends from February to April (rarely up in June). The flowers are pollinated by the moth Coelonia solanii.
Fruit and seeds
The maturing in October / November fruits are globose to oblong, with a 4 to 5 millimeters thick pericarp and a thick reddish- brown indumentum. They contain a number of kidney-shaped, laterally flattened seeds that are up to 16 mm long, 12 mm wide and 8 mm thick.
The seeds have an oil content of 11 percent. The fatty acids are composed of 30 percent palmitic acid, stearic acid 2 percent, 30 percent and 23 percent oleic acid linoleic acid. In addition there are other rare fatty acids.
Distribution, chromosome number and systematics
Adansonia rubrostipa endemic to Madagascar on the west coast of Itampolo to Soalala. It thrives in the thorn forests on well-drained, calcareous soils and karst limestone.
The chromosome number.
Synonyms for the species are Adansonia fony Baill. ex H.Perrier, Adansonia fony var fony Baill. ex H.Perrier and Adansonia fony var rubrostipa Jum. & H.Perrier.
Botanical history
The first pictures of Adansonia species on Madagascar are found on Table 62 and 63 by Johann Theodor de Bry Indiae Orientalis 1605. They can be clearly assigned to Adansonia rubrostipa.
A first description was made in 1890 by Henri Ernest Baillon, who missed the provisional name Adansonia fony. A valid description under this name was made in 1952 by Henry Perrier de la Bâthie. Henry Perrier de la Bâthie had but already in 1909 described together with Henri Lucien Jumelle the species as Adansonia rubrostipa, bringing this name has priority over Adansonia fony.
Use
Although Adansonia rubrostipa is has edible fruits, seeds and roots are not known, a full usage in Madagascar. Sometimes the fruits are offered in Toliara on the market. The wood fires victim fallen trees is used for covering roofs.
Endangering
Adansonia rubrostipa is classified as " Near Threatened (NT) " in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN.