Adansonia za
Adansonia za, is a species of baobab in the genus Adansonia of the family Bombacaceae. It was originally named in French as anadzahé.[3] Common names in Malagasy include bojy, boringy, bozy, bozybe, ringy, and za,[4] the last of which gives the plant its specific epithet.[5]
Adansonia za | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Genus: | Adansonia |
Species: | A. za |
Binomial name | |
Adansonia za | |
Synonyms | |
Description
Adansonia za is a large thick-stemmed (pachycaul) deciduous tree, about 10–40 metres (33–131 ft) high and about 6 metres (20 ft) in diameter. The trunk and branches have a brownish-rose colored hue. The tree is wide at the base and grows to a narrow point towards the top of the tree. Leaves are palmately lobed with up to 5 lobes per leaf. They are 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long and 1.5–2.5 centimetres (0.59–0.98 in) wide and the leaf margin is entire. The flower buds are long green cylinders which can resemble oversized beans and could be mistaken for a fruit. The bud opens with the curling back of the outside layer of the flower bud, revealing yellow and red petals with yellowish long stamens. The corolla is 15–20 centimetres (5.9–7.9 in) long and 1.2–1.5 centimetres (0.47–0.59 in) wide. Petals are 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long and 1.2–1.5 centimetres (0.47–0.59 in) wide. The flowers are musty-sweet scented. Flowering period extends from November to February. Flowers are usually pollinated by moths of the family Sphingidae. Fruits are usually ovoid with a markedly thickened peduncle. They contain kidney-shaped, laterally-flattened seeds. The seeds have an oil content of 11 percent.
Distribution
Adansonia za is endemic to southern and north-western Madagascar, where it is threatened by habitat loss.
Habitat
This plant grows in arid scrublands, in deciduous and thorn forests, and in savannah. It prefers sunny areas and well drained soils, at an elevation up to 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level.
Largest tree
Possibly the largest tree of this species (by circumference) grows near Reakaly village north-west from Ampanihy. The circumference of its trunk is approximately 23 metres (75 ft).[6][7]
Gallery
- Plants of Adansonia za
- Leaning Adansonia za
References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Adansonia za 2016 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 November 2016.
- Baillon, Henri Ernest (7 May 1890). "Sur les Baobabs de Madagascar". Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Paris (in French). 2 (406): 844–846. OCLC 5069130. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
Nous nommerons cette espèce Adansonia za.
- de Flacourt, Étienne (1661). "CHAPITRE XIV Du pays des Mahafalles Houlouve Siveh & Vouronheoc". Histoire de la grande isle Madagascar: avec une relation de ce qui s'est passe es annees 1655, 1656 et 1657 non encor veue par la premiere Impression (in French). Pierre l'Amy. p. 41. OCLC 718580508. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- Bradt, Hilary (March 2011). "3 Natural History". Madagascar. Bradt Travel Guides (10 ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. p. 44. ISBN 9781841623412. OCLC 861680238. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- Wickens, Gerald E.; Lowe, Pat (2 March 2008). "1 Historical Background". The Baobabs: Pachycauls of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 24. ISBN 9781402064319. OCLC 239278146. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "Reakaly Baobab (Ampanihy Baobab)". Wondermondo. 30 July 2014.
- "Baobab (Adansonia za)". davesgarden.com. 11 April 2006.
Image of tree
Sources
- Baum, David A. (1995). "The Comparative Pollination and Floral Biology of Baobabs (Adansonia- Bombacaceae)". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 82 (2): 322–348. doi:10.2307/2399883. JSTOR 2399883.
- Baum, David A. (1995). "A Systematic Revision of Adansonia (Bombacaceae)". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 82 (3): 440–471. doi:10.2307/2399893. JSTOR 2399893.