page_title: Adansonia digitata
section_title: Food
hierarchical_section_title: Adansonia digitata / Food
caption_attribution_description: English: In an example of silvopastoralism, a Serer cowherd (top right) harvests foliage from a baobab (Adansonia digitata) to feed his livestock. Even in heavily deforested parts of the Sahel, baobab trees often remain as a valuable source of forage, leafing out several months in advance of short rainy season. To harvest the nutritious leaves, herders climb the ancient trees without the aid of ropes or ladders, trimming the foliage with a machete. This is an image of "African people at work" from Senegal
context_page_description: Adansonia digitata, the African baobab, is the most widespread tree species of the genus Adansonia, the baobabs, and is native to the African continent. The long-lived pachycauls are typically found in dry, hot savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, where they dominate the landscape, and reveal the presence of a watercourse from afar. Their growth rate is determined by ground water or rainfall, and their maximum age, which is subject to much conjecture, seems to be in the order of 1,500 years. They have traditionally been valued as sources of food, water, health remedies or places of shelter and are steeped in legend and superstition. European explorers of old were inclined to carve their names on baobabs, and many are defaced by modern graffiti.
context_section_description: The baobab is a traditional food plant in Africa, but is little-known elsewhere. The fruit has been suggested to have the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care.
caption: A cowherd in Senegal harvests baobab leaves for forage in the dry season
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