Adansonia madagascariensis

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Adansonia madagascariensis
Baobab M.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Adansonia
Species:
A. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Adansonia madagascariensis

Adansonia madagascariensis or Madagascar baobab is a small to large deciduous tree in the family Malvaceae. [2] It is one of six species of baobab endemic to Madagascar, where it occurs in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. [3]

Contents

Description

This is a tree that grows from 5 metres (16.4 ft) to 20 metres (65.6 ft) tall with a bottle-shaped to cylindrical trunk and irregular crown. [4] The bark is a smooth, pale gray. Leaves are palmate with 5 to 7 leaflets and are present from November to April. Flowers are produced February to April, with the leaves, and are large and fragrant with dark red (rarely yellow) petals. In the centre of the flower is a red stigma atop a dark red style. Flowers open at dusk, are finished blooming by dawn and are pollinated by long-tongued hawkmoths. [4] Fruits ripen by November. They have a tough, thick shell, are rounded and usually less than 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long; smaller than most other baobab species. The trees are often found along watercourses and the thick-shelled fruit are likely dispersed by water. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Madagascar baobab is found on limestone, sandstone or gneiss, usually in dry to moist deciduous forests. The species is found in scattered locations from Antsiranana at the northern tip of Madagascar south along the west coast to the Sambirano region and perhaps Soalala. It was once thought to also be found in the south-east of the country, but those trees have since been determined to be Adansonia za . [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Adansonia</i> Genus of plants known as baobab

Adansonia is a genus made up of eight species of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs. They are placed in the Malvaceae family, subfamily Bombacoideae. They are native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia. The trees have also been introduced to other regions such as Asia. The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described Adansonia digitata. The baobab is also known as the "upside down tree", a name that originates from several myths. They are among the most long-lived of vascular plants and have large flowers that are reproductive for a maximum of 15 hours. The flowers open around dusk, opening so quickly that movement can be detected by the naked eye, and are faded by the next morning. The fruits are large, oval to round and berry-like and hold kidney-shaped seeds in a dry, pulpy matrix.

<i>Adansonia gregorii</i> Species of tree

Adansonia gregorii, commonly known as the boab and also known by a number of other names, is a tree in the family Malvaceae, endemic to the northern regions of Western Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didiereaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Didiereaceae is a family of flowering plants found in continental Africa and Madagascar. It contains 20 species classified in three subfamilies and six genera. Species of the family are succulent plants, growing in sub-arid to arid habitats. Several are known as ornamental plants in specialist succulent collections. The subfamily Didiereoideae is endemic to the southwest of Madagascar, where the species are characteristic elements of the spiny thickets.

<i>Adansonia digitata</i> Species of plant

Adansonia digitata, the African baobab, is the most widespread tree species of the genus Adansonia, the baobabs, and is native to the African continent and the southern Arabian Peninsula. These are long-lived pachycauls; radiocarbon dating has shown some individuals to be over 2,000 years old. They are typically found in dry, hot savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, where they dominate the landscape and reveal the presence of a watercourse from afar. They have traditionally been valued as sources of food, water, health remedies or places of shelter and are a key food source for many animals. They are steeped in legend and superstition. In recent years, many of the largest, oldest trees have died, for unknown reasons. Common names for the baobab include monkey-bread tree, upside-down tree, and cream of tartar tree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjajavy Forest</span>

The Anjajavy's Protected Area is located on a peninsula of the town of Antonibe, in the district of Analalava and in the north-west region of Madagascar. It is part of the Sofia region of the independent province of Mahajanga and its position is between 47°13’ at 44°22’ of longitude east and 14°58 at 15°07’ of latitude south..

<i>Adansonia rubrostipa</i> Species of flowering plant

Adansonia rubrostipa, commonly known as fony baobab, is a deciduous tree in the Malvaceae family. Of eight species of baobab currently recognized, six are indigenous to Madagascar, including fony baobab. It is endemic to western Madagascar, found in Baie de Baly National Park, south. It is associated with well-drained soils and is found in dry and spiny forests. It occurs in the following protected areas: Amoron'i Onilahy, Baie de Baly, Menabe Antimena, Mikea, Namoroka, Ranobe PK 32, Tsimanampesotse, Tsimembo Manambolomaty, Tsinjoriake.

<i>Adansonia grandidieri</i> Species of tree

Adansonia grandidieri is the biggest and most famous of Madagascar's six species of baobabs. It is sometimes known as Grandidier's baobab or the giant baobab. In French it is called Baobab malgache. The local name is renala or reniala. This tree is endemic to the island of Madagascar, where it is an endangered species threatened by the encroachment of agricultural land. This is the tree found at the Avenue of the Baobabs.

<i>Adansonia perrieri</i> Species of flowering plant

Adansonia perrieri, or Perrier's baobab, is a critically endangered species of deciduous tree, in the genus Adansonia. This species is endemic to northern Madagascar. It has been documented in only 10 locations, including the Ankarana, Ampasindava, Loky Manambato and Montagne d'Ambre protected areas. Most populations, however, are outside of protected areas. Each location has few individuals. With an estimated population of fewer than 250 mature individuals and ongoing habitat decline due to fire and cutting for charcoal and timber or clearing for mining, this species has been assessed by IUCN as Critically Endangered. There are three species of baobab found in northern Madagascar, all sharing the common name "bozy".

<i>Adansonia suarezensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Adansonia suarezensis, the Suarez baobab, is an endangered species of Adansonia endemic to Madagascar. It is locally called "bozy", the common name used for all baobabs in northern Madagascar.

<i>Adansonia za</i> Species of flowering plant

Adansonia za is a species of baobab in the genus Adansonia of the family Malvaceae. It was originally named in French as anadzahé. Common names in Malagasy include bojy, boringy, bozy, bozybe, ringy, and za, the last of which gives the plant its specific epithet. Eight Adansonia species are recognized, with six endemic to Madagascar. Adansonia za is the most widespread of the Madagascar endemics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsimanampetsotsa National Park</span> National park in Madagascar

Tsimanampetsotsa National Park also spelt Tsimanampetsotse, and known as Tsimanampetsotsa Nature Reserve is a 432 km2national park on the south-west coast of Madagascar in the region Atsimo-Andrefana. The park is 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of Toliara and 950 kilometres (590 mi) south of the capital, Antananarivo. Route Nationales (RN) 10 to Faux Cap passes the park and the nearest airport is at Toliara. The national park contains and is named after Lake Tsimanampetsotsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park</span> National Park in Madagascar

Zombitse-Vohibasia is a national park in the Atsimo-Andrefana region of south-west Madagascar. It is 147 kilometres (91 mi) north-east of the town of Toliara on the National road 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirindy Forest</span>

The Kirindy Forest is a private nature reserve situated in western Madagascar, about 50 km northeast of the town of Morondava, near Ambivy. The forest reserve falls within the boundaries of the Kirindy Mitea National Park, which spreads further to the south.

<i>Uapaca bojeri</i> Species of tree

Uapaca bojeri, or tapia, is a tree species endemic to Madagascar. A characteristic element of the Madagascan flora, it occurs in the central highlands, where it dominates a type of sclerophyllous forest or woodland. Tapia forest has a high ecological value due to the fauna, flora, and funga it harbours, and is of economic interest to the local population, e.g. for collection of tapia fruits, firewood, mushrooms or wild silkworms, and hunting. Local impact through fire and cutting is seen as a form of sustainable use however tapia woodlands are now found only in scattered, isolated stands totaling at most 132,255 ha. Native woody vegetation of the central highlands is increasingly replaced by grasslands, primarily due to increased fire frequency as areas are burned annually.

<i>Mediusella arenaria</i> Species of tree

Mediusella arenaria is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Mediusella bernieri is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Xerochlamys coriacea is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Xerochlamys elliptica</i> Species of tree

Xerochlamys elliptica is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Xerochlamys tampoketsensis is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Perrierodendron rodoense is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. The specific epithet rodoense is for the Irodo River, where the species was studied.

References

  1. Andriamanohera, A.M. (2020). "Adansonia madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T37681A64358429. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T37681A64358429.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. "Adansonia madagascariensis Baill". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  3. Wickens, Gerald E.; Lowe, Pat (2008). The baobabs: pachycauls of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Springer. ISBN   978-1-4020-6430-2.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Baum, D.A., 1995, A Systematic Revision of Adansonia (Bombacaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 1995, Vol. 82, No. 3 (1995), pp. 440-471