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Baobab (Adansonia digitata)
is a multipurpose, widely-used African tree. Baobab occurs scattered in
savannahs, often near dwellings. It has numerous medicinal properties and
(non-)food uses. Young leaves, rich in minerals/vitamins, are cooked as spinach
and sauces. Fruit pulp is high in Vitamin C, and is dissolved in water or milk
and drunk, used as sauce or fermenting agent, etc. Seed kernels are eaten fresh,
dry or ground and used in cooking, as thickening/flavouring agent, or roasted.
Seeds are also a source of cooking oil. Bark fibre is used for rope, basket
nets, fishing lines and weaving. |
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Tamarind (Tamarindus indica Lam.)
is grown for subsistence and some commercial production in Asia and Latin
America, however it often occurs wild in the tropics. In Africa unimproved trees
are often commercially exploited, but are considered as underutilised crop.
Tamarind fruit pulp is the richest known natural source of tartaric acid and is
used for flavouring chutneys, sauces and juices. Sweet varieties can also be
consumed as table fruit. Its leaves are a source of food and medicine. Tamarind
wood is used for timber, tool handles, charcoal and fuel wood. Seed kernel
powder, the major industrial product, is an important material used in sizing of
textiles and paper. |
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