Final Radiocarbon Investigation of Platland Tree, the Biggest African Baobab

TitleFinal Radiocarbon Investigation of Platland Tree, the Biggest African Baobab
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsPatrut, A, Woodborne, S, Patrut, RT, Rakosy, L, Hall, G, Ratiu, I-A, von Reden, KF
Corporate AuthorsBabeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028, Cluj-Napoca, Romania apatrut@gmail.com, iThemba Laboratories, Box 722 Somerset West, 7129, South Africa, Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology, 44 Gheorghe Bilascu, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology, 44 Gheorghe Bilascu, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, 0001, South Africa, Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, NOSAMS Facility, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
JournalStudia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Chemia
Volume62
Issue2
Pagination347 - 354
Date PublishedApr-06-2018
ISSN12247154
Abstract

The article discloses the main results of our new investigation of Platland tree, a.k.a. Sunland baobab, the largest known African baobab. Our recent research was motivated by the three successive splits of 2016 and 2017, which determined the collapse and demise of the stems that have built the main unit of the tree. According to our new findings concerning the architecture of large and old baobabs, we established that Platland tree has a double closed-ring shaped structure and consists of two units/rings that close two separate false cavities. The larger unit was composed of five fused stems, out of which four toppled and died, while the fifth stem is already broken. The smaller unit, which is still standing, consists of three fused stems. We also determined that the larger unit had an age of 800 yr, while the smaller unit is 1100 yr old.

URLhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/318354222_Final_Radiocarbon_Investigation_of_Platland_Tree_the_Biggest_African_Baobab
DOI10.24193/subbchem.2017.2.27