[英语课]

Baobab Adansonia digitata

_{http://www.baobab.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/baobab-fruit-antioxidant-baomix-pulp-leaves-coffee-bio-cafe-biologique-organic-agoji-david-hervy-bio.jpg}

Adansonia is a genus containing eight species of trees, native to Madagascar (having six species), mainland Africa and Australia (one species in each). The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island.

A typical common name is baobab. Other common names include boab, boaboa, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree. The species reach heights of 5 to 30 metres (16 to 98 ft) and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11 metres (23 to 36 ft). Glencoe Baobab – an African Baobab specimen in Limpopo Province, South Africa, often considered the largest example alive, up to recent times had a circumference of 47 metres (154 ft) and an average diameter of 15.9 metres (52 ft).[1] Recently the tree split up into two parts and it is possible that the stoutest tree now is Sunland Baobab, also in South Africa. Diameter of this tree is 10.64 m, approximate circumference – 33.4 metres. <sub>http://aggregated.soup.io/tag/baobab


http://absbonsai.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10070/normal_Adansonia_digitata2_sm.jpg</sub>

Scientific name: Adansonia digitata
Family: Malvaceae (kapok, mallow, cola, hibiscus)
Also known as: monkey bread tree, lemonade tree, upside down tree

Baobab trees can live for over 3,000 years. When they die, they rot inside and suddenly collapse.
The trees resist drought, fire and termites. They regrow their bark if it is stripped.
They are known as upside down trees because their branches look like roots.
Some people believe that if you pick a flower from a baobab tree you will be eaten by a lion. But if you eat water in which baobab seeds have been soaked, you will be safe from a crocodile attack.

Where it grows

This baobab is native to tropical African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique. Its natural habitat is hot, dry woodland on stony, well-drained soils, in areas that receive low rainfall. Baobabs have also been planted in India and Australia.

Common uses

In Africa most parts of the baobab are eaten:

Fruits: the pale powder that covers the black seeds inside the fruits tastes sharp and tangy, and is added to many sauces and drinks. This fruit powder is rich in Vitamin C and B2, and therefore offers health benefits, especially for pregnant women, children and the elderly, and is said to help fight fevers and settle the stomach.

Leaves: an excellent source of protein, minerals and vitamins A and C. They are eaten fresh and also dried, milled and sieved to make a green powder that is used to flavour drinks and sauces.

Seeds: used to thicken soups, or fermented to use as a flavouring, or roasted to be eaten as snacks.

The wood is used for fuel and timber. _{http://www.abaobab.com/fruit-baobab-pulp-organic-pulpa-fruto-fruta-polpa-frutto-frucht-antioxidant/baobab-fruit-pulp/baobab-adansonia-digitata/}