Specimen Showcase | The Stem-succulent #Baobab Tree

Recently we received a new donation of two fruits of the Grandidier's Baobab tree (𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘪 Baill. ) by Dr. Billy Hau.

Fruits of the Grandidier's Baobab tree

This species occurs only in the southwest part of #Madagascar. They are huge and massive trees reaching a 25 m height and with 3 to 5 m diameter water-storing trunks. The water storage is an adaptation to the droughts occurring in these regions, with the trees replenishing their water supply during rainfall events.

The fruit surfaces are covered with short soft hairs.

These trees can live for several centuries, with the two oldest individuals known about 1500 years old, being among some of the #oldest_angiosperms (flowering plants) in the world.

Their pollinators are nocturnal #lemurs, which are attracted by the nectar of the flowers. While eating nectar, lemurs will also catch pollen unintentionally, transferring it to other flowers, then allowing the baobab to produce hundreds of fruits annually.

The fruit surfaces are covered with short soft hairs.

These new specimens are now curated and included in the exhibition, representing the first of many plant specimens to be displayed in the museum.

The water-storing trunk of a Grandidier's Baobab tree is an adaptation to the droughts occuring in these regions.

#endangered #malvaceae #biodiversity #specimensshowcase #specimens #HKBM