The baobab, Adansonia digitata, is the African “bottle tree” with a massive swollen trunk and branches like roots. A few ancient baobabs grow in India, most famously at Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, in Hyderabad and on the Gujarat coast, planted centuries ago by traders and travellers from Africa and Arabia. Its dry, tangy fruit pulp is a food rich in vitamin C.
- Botanical name
- Adansonia digitata L.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Tamil
- Anaipuliya maram
- Hindi
- Gorakh imli
- Parts used
- Ripe pulp
- Habit
- African bottle tree; ilavu is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-25
How to recognise Baobab
The trunk is enormous, smooth and grey, often barrel-shaped, and can reach many metres around. It stores water for the dry season.
The leaves are palmately compound, with five to seven leaflets like a hand, which is what digitata means. The tree is leafless for much of the dry season.
Large, hanging white flowers open at night and are pollinated by fruit bats.
The fruit is a large, velvety, oval pod. It holds dry, chalky white pulp around the seeds, tart and lemony to taste.
Traditional use of Baobab
African food
In Africa the pulp is eaten and made into drinks, the young leaves are cooked as a vegetable, and the seeds are roasted.
African food practice
Indian tradition
In India baobabs are often linked with Sufi shrines and old trade routes, and the fruit is called khorasani imli or gorakh imli.
Indian history and local tradition
Modern notes on Baobab
Nutrition studies confirm the pulp is high in vitamin C, fibre and minerals, and baobab powder is now sold as a food ingredient.
Some African baobabs are well over a thousand years old, and several of the oldest died in recent decades, possibly linked to climate change.
Baobab safety
The pulp is a food. Treat high-dose powders like any concentrated supplement.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the dry savannas of mainland Africa and has been planted across the tropics.
In India it does not spread naturally, and the old trees are heritage trees worth protecting.
Related plants
Also in Malvaceae
Questions about Baobab
Where can I see baobabs in India?
At Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Golconda in Hyderabad, and scattered sites in Gujarat and elsewhere.
Is the pulp edible?
Yes. It is dry, tangy and rich in vitamin C.
How long do baobabs live?
Some live well over a thousand years.
Sources
- Adansonia digitata L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q158742 (Adansonia digitata)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.