Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
columnar giants up to 30m tall. But in the spiny scrub at Andavadoaka, mature trees of
the same species are quite knobbly and almost spherical, often reaching no more than 3m
in height. Nevertheless, the following descriptions should help you to determine which are
which.
Adansonia grandidieri
These, the most majestic and famous of the Malagasy baobabs,
were named in honour of French naturalist Alfred Grandidier. They may reach 30m in
height and 7.5m in diameter, with some large hollow ones reportedly having been used as
houses. The best-known specimens form the Avenue des Baobabs near Morondava (one of
the most photographed sights in Madagascar). The isolated trees in this area would once
have been surrounded by dense forest; but today their silhouettes can be seen for miles
across the flat, featureless rice fields. Better examples (being in relatively intact forest)
can be seen in the Mangoky Valley. Grandidier's baobabs tend to be found on flood plains
or near rivers. Malagasy names:
renala, reniala
(literally 'mother of the forest'); flowers:
May-August; distribution: Manambolo lakes system down to Mikea Forest.
A. grandidieri
Morondava
A. grandidieri
Andavadoaka
Adansonia za
Typically with a tall, straight trunk and grey bark around the crown, this is
themostwidespreadspecies.Itisfoundfurtherinlandthantheothers,mostnotablyaround
