Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Varnishing		Scientific Name Adansonia digitata Trade Name Ala Family Name Bombacaceae Common Names Ala, Alagba, Baobab, Cream of tartar tree, Dodo, Ekuba, Ethiopian sour gourd, Fromodo, Hilai, Mbuyu, Mguya, Mkulukumba, Mlambe, Mlonje, Monkeybread tree, Mubuyu, Mubuzi, Mukulukumbe, Muuyu, Muvei, Muwe, Muweyu, Muwiyu, Muyu, Salo, Toreg, Toyega, Tua, Tuo, Tuwa, Umkhomo, Umkomo Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Boat building (general), Canoes, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Food containers, Fuelwood, Pulp/Paper products Heartwood Color Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color Same as heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Straight Distinct figure Texture Fine Coarse Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Moderately durable Perishable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Ease of Drying Difficult Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Gluing is often difficult Nailing Nails hold poorly Planing Planes to a poor finish Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Painting Poor results Varnishing Poor turning properties Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight)=less than 15 lbs Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 17 lbs/ft3 Weight 17 14 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 272 kg/m3 References Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Palgrave, K.C.,1957,Trees of Central Africa,National Publ. Trust,Rhodesia and Nyasaland Pardy, A.A.,1953,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Adansonia digitata,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1697 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda Vaid, K.M., Vaid, R.,1978,Currency Paper from Adansonia,Indian Journal of Forestry,1(1,pp53-5 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London