Adansonia gibbosa
Australian Boab
Adansonia gibbosa (syn. A. gregorii) is the only baobab native to Australia, distributed in the northwest of the country, primarily in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Its massive bottle-shaped trunk can store up to 120,000 liters of water, a crucial adaptation for surviving the long dry season. It is of great cultural importance to Aboriginal Australian peoples, who use its fruits, seeds, and bark as food and medicine.
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© David J. Stang
CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
| Category | Classification |
|---|---|
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Genus | Adansonia |
| Growth Habit | Large deciduous tree with a massively swollen bottle-shaped trunk, 5–15 m tall with a trunk circumference of 7–12 m |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern (LC) — IUCN; however, seedling populations show signs of climate change stress |
| pH Target | 6.0–8.0 |
| Type | Sandy, clay, or rocky; tolerates soils with low organic matter content |
Origin & Habitat
Morphology
Extremely voluminous, smooth grey trunk with fibrous bark that stores large water reserves. Can reach 12 m in circumference in mature specimens.
ecoDigitately compound leaves with 5–9 lanceolate leaflets, bright green, 4–8 cm long. Deciduous: shed during the dry season (May–September).
ecoPendulous creamy-white flowers, 6–10 cm in diameter, with numerous prominent stamens. Bloom at night, pollinated mainly by bats and large moths.
ecoWoody ovoid fruit 10–15 cm, with edible floury pulp and kidney-shaped seeds surrounded by fibre. Aboriginal peoples call it the 'boab nut'.
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Requirements
Soil & Substrate
Type
Sandy, clay, or rocky; tolerates soils with low organic matter content
groups Beneficial Associations
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Propagation Strategy
- 1 Scarify the seed mechanically or with hot water (60 °C) for 30 minutes to break the hard testa.
- 2 Soak in warm water for 24 hours before sowing.
- 3 Sow in sandy loam substrate at 2 cm depth, at 25–35 °C.
- 4 Germination occurs in 14–30 days. The cotyledon remains underground (hypogeal germination).
- 5 Maintain moderate moisture; avoid waterlogging. Transplant at 3–4 months when the taproot is well developed.
The swollen trunk takes many years to develop; in pots the characteristic shape does not appear until 8–12 years.
Overwatering during the dry season or winter: causes rapid root system rot.
Every 5–7 years, only when roots are visible or the tree shows water stress symptoms from lack of space
Fertilize during growing season (November–March) with balanced slow-release fertilizer (14-14-14); skip during dormancy
Uses & Applications
Precautions / Toxicity
No known toxicity. All plant organs have been used as food by Aboriginal Australian peoples.
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Plant Health
Collar rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi): fatal in poorly drained soils. Main limiting factor in cultivation outside Australia.
Trunk borers (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): can damage water-storage tissue in weakened trees. Monitor with pheromone traps.
Wood rot fungi (Ganoderma spp.): affect old trees with basal wounds; no effective treatment, prevent by avoiding mechanical trunk damage.
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"Adansonia gibbosa is the most geographically isolated species in the genus, separated from its African and Malagasy relatives by thousands of kilometres. Phylogenetic studies suggest a single colonisation from Africa during the Oligocene or Miocene, likely via oceanic fruit dispersal. The oldest known specimens exceed 1,500 years of age."
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Scientific Integrity
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Sources
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Discussion
Disclaimer
This species record is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Jardín Roca Negra does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data. Content is community-curated and may be subject to revision; it should not replace advice from a qualified botanist. This species may be toxic, invasive, or subject to legal restrictions — verify before handling or cultivating. Jardín Roca Negra accepts no liability for any harm arising from reliance on this information. Images are reproduced under Creative Commons or equivalent free licenses; credits are noted below each image.