Baobab, Judas Fruit, Monkey Bread Tree

Adansonia digitata

Physical Characteristics

Adansonia digitata is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bats, Bush Babies, Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant is not wind tolerant.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Mauritania to Sudan, south to Angola and Tanzania.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Inner bark Leaves Oil Root Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Oil Edible portion: Roots, Leaves, Fruit, Seeds, Bark, Sprouts, Flowers, Vegetable. The acid pulp of the fruit is eaten and made into drinks[301 ]. An edible white, powdery, dry pulp found in the fully ripe fruit is very rich in vitamin C and B2 and makes a refreshing drink[303 , 775 ]. The drink is said to taste like lemonade[377 ]. Ripe fruits are collected and cracked to remove the 'flour', which is mixed with milk to prepare a flavoured fermented porridge[303 ]. The pendant fruits are velvet-covered, gray and gourd-like, about 30cm long, and apparently look like dead rats hanging from the tree by their tails[372 ]. The acid pith of the fruit is used as a substitute for cream of tartar in baking[303 ]. It is also roasted and used as a coffee substitute[303 ]. Young leaves - cooked[301 ]. A tasty spinach[774 ]. Eaten as a potherb or dried, ground into a powder and used to thicken soups, stews etc[46 , 301 ]. Rich in Vitamin C, they also contain uronic acids - they are in high demand in West Africa as a soup vegetable[303 ]. An extract of the leaves, called 'lalo', is used to give couscous a smooth consistency[303 ]. The leaves also form an excellent condiment and seasoning[303 ]. Seed - eaten mixed with millet meal[46 , 301 ]. Ground into a flour, they are used as a flavouring or baking powder substitute[301 ]. When slightly fermented, this powder has the flavour of almonds[301 ]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[301 ]. The seeds contain appreciable quantities of tartaric acid and potassium bitar; they are refreshing to suck, and when soaked in water make a palatable drink[303 ]. An edible oil can be obtained from the seed[301 , 303 ]. A pleasant flavour[46 ]. Flowers - raw[301 ]. Tender roots are eaten[301 ]. Mature, thick roots are cooked and eaten during times of famine[303 ]. A root decoction is widely used in Sierra Leone as food. It is prepared by boiling, roasting, soaking or fermenting the roots, and tastes like almonds[303 ]. The shoots of germinating seeds are edible[301 ]. Eaten as a vegetable[303 ]. A delicious flavour[393 ]. Having a high water content, the wood is chewed by humans and animals in cases of extreme water scarcity[303 ]. The wood can be used as a salt substitute[303 ].

Medicinal Uses

Dysentery Vitamin C The leaves are hyposensitive and antihistamine[303 ]. They are used to treat kidney and bladder diseases, asthma, general fatigue, diarrhoea, insect bites, and guinea worm[303 ]. Leaf and flower infusions are valued for respiratory problems, digestive disorders and eye inflammation[303 ]. Seeds are used to cure gastric, kidney and joint diseases. They are roasted then ground and the powder smeared on the affected part or drunk in water[303 ]. The seed paste is used for curing tooth and gum diseases[303 ]. The fruit pulp, seed and bark are reputedly an antidote to Strophanthus poisoning[303 ]. The pulp is widely used in Africa as a diaphoretic to combat fevers, and to treat dysentery[46 ]. The gum from the bark is used for cleansing sores. It is also used as an expectorant and a diaphoretic[303 ]. The bark is used in steam baths for calming shivering and high fever[303 ]. The bark is boiled and taken as a cure for body pains. This infusion is also used to treat colds, fever and influenza[303 ] A decoction of the roots is taken as a remedy for lassitude, impotence and kwashiorkor[303 ]. Chemical composition - leaves (sun-dried): rich in calcium, containing 3.6% calcium oxide, potassium tartarate, common salt and tannin. Acid composition of seed oils (Nigerian sample): Oil = 15%. Fatty acid composition - 14:0 = trace. 18:0 = 5%. 18:1 = 33%. 18:2 = 29%. Cyclopropenoid acids (as sterculic (HBr-acetic acid in benzene)) = 7%. Chemical composition (after Abdelmuti): Protein (crude) = 3.1% (dry). Fat = 0.5% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 9.2% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 5.8% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 15.3% (dry). Sucrose = 19.3% (dry). D-gluose = 0.6% (dry). D-fructose = 5.6% (dry). Amino acids (g (16g N)-1): Aspartic acid = 9.8g. Threonine = 5.2g. Serine = 5.9g. Glutamic acid = 10.1g. Proline = 7.5g. Glycine = 5.5g. Alanine = 5.2g. Valine = 5.2g. Cysteine = 1.3g. Methionine = 1.3g. Isoleucine = 4.2g. Leucine = 6.8g. Tyrosine = 3.3g. Phenylalanine = 4.2g. Lysine = 4.6g. Histidine = 1.6g. Arginine = 4.6g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.13% (dry). Potassium = 0.06% (dry). Magnesium = 0.14% (dry). Calcium = 0.36% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 2.57% (dry). Zinc = 13mg/kg -1 (dry). Iron = 17 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 8 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 8 mg/kg-1 (dry). Aluminium = 10 mg/kg-1 (dry).

Known Hazards

The bark is boiled for days to extract a substance poisonous to ants[303 ].