45,871
edits
Changes
kiw+
other legends are dedicated to
baobab.
Fruits containing rich pulp
The fruits of baobabs or pods
are fleshy, dry, large berries.
The fruits contain several hundred seeds
coated in a white, chalky pulp.
It is likely that
giant tortoises, the elephant bird (aepyornis) and large lemurs,
were good seed dispersers. This role is probably ensured today
by animals introduced by man (zebus, goats, bush pigs) or
by water which can sometimes transport the fruits and their
valuable cargoes of seeds over great distances.
The pulp is very
rich in vitamin C and
microelements (calcium,
potassium, manganese). It
has a concentration of
vitamin C much higher than
that of orange and
equivalent to that of kiwi.
The fruits can remain on the trees for several months before falling
to the ground.
Baobab fruit seeds are bean shaped.
Their size and color vary depending on the
species.