June 27, 2001: 17 years ago

The French naturalist Michele Adanson is said to have called the baobab as “the most useful tree.” This particular specimen pictured above was collected on June 27, 2001 by E. Mboya and others in Tanzania.  The baobab is an incredible important tree to the people and wildlife of Africa.  The tree can live up to a thousand years old!  Baobab produces a hard fruit with white pulp that has long been a traditional food by native Africans, as well as a source for water, medicine, and shelter. For these reasons, it is also known as “the tree of life.”
 
The species (Adansonia digitata) was named by Linnaeus in honor of Michele Adanson, who studied specimens of this species in the 1700s.  The second part of the scientific name ("digitata") refers to the 5 finger-like leaflets that make up the compound leaf. Interestingly, the Carnegie Museum herbarium includes 20 specimens collected by Adanson himself, dating back to 1753.

The baobab (Adansonia digitata) is prominently featured in the Hall of African Wildlife at the Carnegie Museum.  The species biological and cultural presence in some  part of Africa is unmistakable.

Below:  Another baobab specimen collected in 1973 that shows the large, white flowers, which are primarily pollinated by bats.