Living Beings
    Source-identified Adansonia digitata; Cultivated African baobab photographed in Madagascar. Framed for display
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    Le grand baobab Adansonia digitata 02.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Cultivated African baobab photographed in Madagascar. Adansonia rayanne2 · CC0

    Field guide · species

    African Baobab

    Adansonia digitata L., 1759

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    ViridiplantaeMagnoliopsidaMalvalesMalvaceae

    The African baobab is a tropical tree recognized by its enormous trunk and spreading crown. Its scientific epithet refers to the hand-like arrangement of the leaflets.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomViridiplantae
    4. PhylumStreptophyta
    5. ClassMagnoliopsida
    6. OrderMalvales
    7. FamilyMalvaceae
    8. GenusAdansonia
    9. SpeciesAdansonia digitata
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Viridiplantae kingdom
    4. Streptophyta phylum
    5. Streptophytina subphylum
    6. Embryophyta clade
    7. Tracheophyta clade
    8. Euphyllophyta clade
    9. Spermatophyta clade
    10. Magnoliopsida class
    11. Mesangiospermae clade
    12. eudicotyledons clade
    13. Gunneridae clade
    14. Pentapetalae clade
    15. rosids clade
    16. malvids clade
    17. Malvales order
    18. Malvaceae family
    19. Bombacoideae subfamily
    20. Adansonia genus
    21. Adansonia digitata species
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    Structure and identification

    Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point.

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    Habitat and range

    A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements.

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    Nutrition and metabolism

    Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed.

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    Geographic distribution

    Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species.

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    Ecological role

    Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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