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Sausage Tree Flower Wikimedia Commons
Bignoniaceae

Sausage Tree Flower

Kigelia africana

Abundance and provision.

Family
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Kigelia
Native to
Tropical Africa
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
semi-deciduous tree
Height
30-65 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, fertile
Water
moderate
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The tree gets its name from the enormous sausage-shaped fruits that can weigh up to 22 pounds and hang on rope-like stalks.
  • Flowers open at night and fall by morning; they are pollinated primarily by bats attracted to their musty scent.
  • The fruit extract is widely used in African traditional medicine and is now an ingredient in commercial skincare products.
  • Hippos, baboons, and elephants eat the fallen fruits, which are toxic to humans unless specially prepared.
  • In many African cultures, the tree is considered sacred and associated with fertility rituals.

Color meanings

0

abundance

1

provision

2

natural wonder

Uses

  • traditional medicine
  • cosmetics
  • shade tree