Abstract
THE baobab tree Adansonia digitata L. (family Bomb-acaceae) has been variously estimated as being several hundred to several thousand years old. The French botanist Adanson, after whom the tree was named, contended that some specimens were as much as 5,000 years old1.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cowen, D. V., Flowering Trees and Shrubs in India, 21 (Thacker and Co., Ltd., 1952).
Palgrave, O. H. C., et al., Trees of Central Africa, 49 (University Press, Glasgow, 1957).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SWART, E. Age of the Baobab Tree. Nature 198, 708–709 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198708b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/198708b0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
A Historically Contextualized Account of the Baobab Trees (Adansonia digitata L.) of Tobago
Economic Botany (2022)
-
The baobabs of the Comoro Islands: some biogeographical factors towards the protection and conservation of a neglected asset
Tropical Ecology (2019)
-
Age determination of large live trees with inner cavities: radiocarbon dating of Platland tree, a giant African baobab
Annals of Forest Science (2011)