The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Baobab tree, אדנסוניה מאוצבעת, אדנסוניה מאוצבעת

Family: Malvaceae (Mallow)

Distribution: Tropical areas in Central and South Africa, from there it was distributed to hot regions around the world.

Habitat: Open savannas

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Life form: Broad leaved tree

Uses: An extremely useful plant. Rich in Calcium, Vitamin C and antioxidants. Most of its parts are used - the fruit is edible and used to prepare drinks;the seeds are pressed for oil; ropes are prepared from the branches' fibers; the leaves are used in sallads andpickles; The flowers are used for tea. Many traditional remedies are prepared from this tree.

Remarks: The tree is fire, drought, and termite resistant. Many superstitions, legends and stories are connected with this tree. For example, if you pick a flower from a baobab tree you will be eaten by a lion; if you drink water in which baobab seeds were marinated - you will be safe from crocodile attacks.

Etymology: Adansonia - named after Michel Adanson, a French 18th century naturalist. The tree's common name is African Baobab. Baobab is a perversion of the arabic term for "father of many seeds". The tree has many additional names in other languages, such as Monkey-bread Tree, Up-side Down Tree and Cream of Tartar Tree.

Conservation: Least concern

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: An impressive tree known by the common name Baobab . The diameter of the trunk can reach 10-14 (28) meters . The tree's height is usually no more than 25 meters. The branches are short and thick, and become thinner towards the edge. The leaves are digitate, usually with 5-9 leaflets (sometimes entire). The flowers are large and white. They pend on long stalks (up to 90 cm). The flowers are 20 cm wide and have many stamens (sometimes over 1500 per flower). The fruit is oval, pointed at the end, yellow, about 20 cm long. It is covered by felt-like downy hairs and contains many seeds. Baobab trees can live up to 2,500 (3,000) years. When the tree dies, its inner parts rot, and it collapses.