Baobab tree

Scientific name: Adansonia digitata

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Not Evaluated

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.10″ N, 64° 49′ 42.71″ W

Observations:

**Phenological Markers – Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata)**

1. Leaf Behavior
Baobab is deciduous, shedding all its leaves during the dry season.

Leaves are palmately compound, typically with 5–7 leaflets resembling a hand.
Full leaf drop generally occurs December to March in the Virgin Islands, leaving the tree completely bare.
New leaf growth begins with the onset of rains, typically April to May.

Observation Tips:

Note timing of complete leaf loss, which gives the tree its famous “upside-down” look.
Record the first flush of new leaves, especially in April.

2. Flowering
Produces large, white, waxy flowers that are bell-shaped, crinkled, and strongly scented (often musky or unpleasant).

Flowers open at dusk and are pollinated by bats, lasting only a single night.
Flowering typically occurs shortly after leaf emergence, around May–July.

Observation Tips:

Look for flower buds during the early wet season.
Observe evening bloom events—flowers often open dramatically at twilight.
Note any bat activity or fallen flowers the next morning.

3. Fruiting
Fruits are large, ovoid capsules with a woody shell and powdery, vitamin C-rich pulp surrounding seeds.

Fruit takes several months to develop, typically maturing August to November.
Fruits hang from long stalks and may persist on the tree well into the dry season.

Observation Tips:

Monitor for young fruit set, maturity color change, and natural drop.
Record wildlife interaction or human collection—fruit is used for food, drink, and traditional medicine.

4. Growth Habit
Baobabs can grow for centuries, with some Caribbean specimens exceeding 30 feet in trunk diameter.

Trunks store water, allowing survival through long droughts.
Growth is slow, but individuals are exceptionally resilient and culturally significant.

5. Seasonal Pattern (St. Croix)

Dec–Mar: Leafless, dormant appearance
Apr–May: Leaf flush and flower bud emergence
May–Jul: Flowering
Aug–Nov: Fruit development and ripening