Adansonia gregorii – Boab (plant)

Description

Adansonia gregorii, commonly known as the boab, it is a tree in the family Malvaceae. As with other baobabs, it is easily recognised by the swollen base of its trunk, which gives the tree a bottle-like appearance. Endemic to Australia, boab occurs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and east into the Northern Territory. It is the only baobab to occur in Australia, the others being native to Madagascar (six species) and mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (one species). From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_gregorii.

The Australian Boab is very closely related to the African species, A. digitata. It has been suggested that it may have been brought to Australia around 75,000-60,000 years ago by humans (Origins of the Australian Boab (Adansonia gregorii), Claudia Vickers, UQ, Australia).

The Boab is a very useful tree. The young seedlings are starting to be used as a culinary item in modern Australian cuisine. The taproot that develops early on can be eaten and is quite tasty. The leaves are also edible. The roots are a useful source of water in survival conditions. The pith surrounding the seeds is also edible and tasty in a sweet, dry and powdery sort of way.

Care and Cultivation of Adansonia gregorii

Adansonia Gregorio is a drought tolerant, beautiful and hardy species suitable for most gardens from the subtropical zones northwards. Can be kept dry over winter in colder zones and makes a great succulent bonsai. Deciduous in colder times of the year, a sign to start withholding water.

1 plant