{{Short description|Genus of African tree}} {{Use South African English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc|display-authors=3}} {{Speciesbox |image = Kigelia africana compose.jpg |image_caption = ''K. africana'' habitat, fruit, flower and seeds |status=LC |status_system=IUCN3.1 |status_ref=<ref>{{cite iucn|author1=Rivers, M.C.|author2=Mark, J.|name-list-style=amp|year=2017|title=''Kigelia africana''|article-number=e.T61986013A61986016|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T61986013A61986016.en|access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref> |display_parents = 3 |genus = Kigelia |parent_authority = [[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]] |species = africana |authority = ([[Jean-Baptiste Lamarck|Lam.]]) [[George Bentham|Benth.]] }} [[File:Kigelia-Africana-Serengeti.JPG|right|thumb|''K. africana'' in [[Serengeti National Park]]]]
'''''Kigelia''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s in the trumpet vine family [[Bignoniaceae]]. The genus consists of only one species, '''''Kigelia africana''''', [[synonymy (biology)|syn.]] ''Kigelia pinnata'', which occurs throughout tropical [[Africa]] and is cultivated elsewhere in the tropics.<ref name="POWO">{{cite web | title=Plants of the World Online | website=Plants of the World Online | url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:4109-1 | access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=A. |last2=Kumari |first2=S. |last3=Singh |first3=A.K. |last4=Singh |first4=N.K. |year=2018 |title=Ethnopharmacology and pharmacology of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329644505 |journal=International Journal of Green Pharmacy |volume=11 |pages=S23–S31|access-date=17 July 2025|via=ResearchGate}}</ref>
Often called '''sausage tree''', it grows a fruit that is up to {{convert|60|cm}} long, weighs about {{convert|5|–|10|kg}}, and resembles a sausage in a casing. The fruit and bark of the plant are used by African tribes as [[traditional medicine]]. The fruit is [[poison]]ous for humans when raw,<ref name="Africa">{{cite web | title=What is a Sausage Tree? Facts About Fruit, Benefits & More | website=Africa Freak - Your Gateway to Wild Africa | date=2022-07-14 | url=https://africafreak.com/sausage-tree | access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref> but is also made into an [[Alcoholic beverage|alcoholic drink]] by tribes in [[Kenya]]. It is eaten by [[elephant]]s, [[baboon]]s, and other wild animals, which may disperse the seeds,<ref name="Africa"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Ajayi | first=Tunde | title=Kigelia africana | website=Forest Center | date=2019-07-23 | url=https://forestcenter.iita.org/index.php/2019/07/23/kigelia-africana/ | access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref> but their importance for seed dispersal remains unverified.<ref name="Koedoe">{{cite journal | last1=Namah | first1=Jah | last2=Midgley | first2=Jeremy J. | last3=Kruger | first3=Laurence M. | title=Reproductive biology of the sausage tree (''Kigelia africana'') in Kruger National Park, South Africa | journal=Koedoe | volume=61 | issue=1 | date=2019-04-29 | issn=2071-0771 | doi=10.4102/koedoe.v61i1.1512 | doi-access=free | url=https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/download/1512/2230 | access-date=2025-06-16|page=}}</ref>
== Etymology == The genus name comes from the Mozambican [[Bantu language|Bantu]] name, ''kigeli-keia<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Nabatanzi |first1=Alice |last2=Nkadimeng |first2=Sanah M.|last3=Lall |first3=Namrita |last4=Kabasa |first4=John D. |last5=McGaw |first5=Lyndy J.|date=2020-06-15 |title=Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activity of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae) |journal=Plants (Basel, Switzerland) |volume=9 |issue=6 |page=753 |doi=10.3390/plants9060753 |doi-access=free |issn=2223-7747 |pmc=7356732 |pmid=32549404|bibcode=2020Plnts...9..753N }}</ref>'', while the common names sausage tree and cucumber tree<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/4043/1/NPR%208(2)%20190-197.pdf|title=''Kigelia africana'' (Lam.) Benth. — an overview |author1=Sangita Saini |author2=Harmeet Kaur |author3=Bharat Verma |author4=Ripudaman|author5=S. K. Singh|journal= Natural Product Radiance |volume=8 |issue=2 |year=2009|pages=190–197}}</ref> refer to the large [[sausage]]-shaped fruit.<ref name=":0" /> Its name in [[Afrikaans]], {{Lang|af|worsboom}}, also means sausage tree, while its [[Arabic]] name means "the father of [[kit-bag]]s".<ref name="Roodt">{{cite book |last1=Roodt |first1=Veronica |title=Kigelia africana ''in'' The Shell field guide to the common trees of the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve |date=1992 |publisher=[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell Oil Botswana]] |location=Gaborone, Botswana}}</ref>
== Description == The tree can be [[deciduous]] or [[evergreen]] depending on rainfall.<ref name=":2" /> It has a rounded [[Crown (botany)|crown]], a thick [[Trunk (botany)|trunk]], and spreading, low-branching limbs; its bark is dark grey to light brown and scaly, with the inner bark being creamy-white, and the branches are marked with [[Lenticel|lenticels]].<ref name=":0" /> It can grow up to {{convert|24|m|ft}} tall.<ref name=":0" />
The bark is grey and smooth at first, peeling on older trees. It can be as thick as {{cvt|6|mm|in}} on a {{cvt|15|cm|in}} diameter branch.<ref name="Roodt" /> The wood is pale brown or yellowish, undifferentiated, and not prone to cracking.<ref name="Roodt" />
The tree mostly grows in the wild, especially in wetter places such as [[rainforest]], [[woodland]], wetter [[savanna]], and [[shrubland]] on [[Loam|loamy]], [[Ultisol|red clay]] soil, which may be rocky.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> It can grow from sea level to 3,000 m elevation.<ref name=":0" />
=== Foliage === The [[Leaf|leaves]] are arranged alternately along the stem and are divided into several pairs of [[Leaflet (botany)|leaflets]], usually with a single leaflet at the tip.<ref name=":0" /> Each leaf can be up to {{cvt|50|cm|in}} long and typically has three to six pairs of opposite leaflets.<ref name=":0" /> The leaflets are shaped from oval to narrow and pointed, measuring {{cvt|7|-|20|cm|in}} long and {{cvt|4|–|12|cm|in}} wide.<ref name=":0" /> Their edges are mostly smooth, sometimes slightly toothed, and their bases are slightly uneven, ranging from rounded to wedge-shaped.<ref name=":0" /> The upper surface of the leaflets is shiny green and often rough, while the underside is dull green and can be either smooth or softly hairy.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Midrib|central vein]] is sunken on the upper side, with seven to twelve pairs of prominent side veins visible underneath.<ref name=":0" /> The leaves do not have [[Stipule|stipules]], and the terminal leaflet can be either present or absent.<ref>Diniz, MA, 1988. Bignoniaceae. In: ''Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 8, Part 3'', [ed. by Launert, E]. London, United Kingdom: Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee. 61-85.</ref>
=== Flowers === The [[flower]]s hang down from branches on long flexible stems ({{cvt|2|-|6|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} long), exceptionally up to {{cvt|7.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>{{cite book | last= Williams | first=Winston | title= Florida's Fabulous Trees | location= Tampa | publisher= Worldwide Publications | page= 24}}</ref> The flowers are produced in [[panicle]]s; they are bell-shaped and fleshy<ref name=":0" /> (similar to those of the [[Spathodea|African tulip tree]] but broader, darker, and more waxy), orange to maroon or purplish green, and about {{cvt|10|cm}} (occasionally as much as {{cvt|12|cm|in}}<ref>{{cite book | last1= Kuck |first1= Loraine E. | last2= Tongg | first2= Richard C. | date= 1960 | title= Hawaiian Flowers and Flowering Trees - A Guide to Tropical and Semitropical Flora | location= Rutland, Vermont | publisher= Charles E. Tuttle Co. | page= 41 }}</ref>) wide. The flowers are [[hermaphrodite]], display symmetry across only one plane ([[Floral symmetry|zygomorphic]]), and have petals arranged in groups of five.<ref name=":0" /> The flowers have four fertile [[Stamen|stamens]]: one smaller sterile stamen, a conical [[Ovary (botany)|ovary]], and emit a strong unpleasant scent at night, attracting [[Bat|bats]] for [[pollination]], though are also much visited in daylight by nectar-feeding birds.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Koedoe"/>
=== Fruit === [[File:African bush elephant, South Luangwa National Park (51866233148).jpg|thumb|[[African bush elephant]] eating the fruit]] The fruit is a tough, very fibrous, [[Dehiscence (botany)|indehiscent]], greyish-brown,<ref name=":0" /> somewhat woody [[berry (botany)|berry]] from {{cvt|30|to|100|cm|abbr=in}} long<ref>{{cite book |last= Huxley | first= Anthony | title= The New Royal Hort. Soc. Dictionary of Gardening | location= New York | publisher= Stockton Press |volume= 2 | page= 735 }}</ref> and up to {{cvt|18|cm|abbr=in}} diameter, but {{cvt|20|cm|abbr=in}} has been reported.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1= Lindley |editor-first1=John|editor-first2=Thomas|editor-last2=Moore | date= 1866 | title= A Treasury of Botany | location= London | publisher= Longmans, Green & Co. | volume= 2 | page= 647 }}</ref> Typically the fruit weighs between {{cvt|5|–|10|kg|0|abbr=in}}<ref name=":0" /> but occasionally up to {{cvt|12|kg}},<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.killerplants.com/weird-plants/20020307.asp | title= Killer Plants | last= Vandaveer | first= Chelsie | date= 7 March 2002 | access-date= 14 December 2004 | archive-date= 15 June 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100615055337/http://www.killerplants.com/weird-plants/20020307.asp }}</ref> and hangs down on the long, rope-like [[peduncle (botany)|peduncles]]. The fruit pulp is fibrous, containing many [[seed]]s, which are unwinged, 1.25 cm long, and [[obovate]].<ref name=":0" /> The fruit pulp is [[poison]]ous to humans and strongly [[purgative]], causing blistering of the tongue and skin, though the seeds may be roasted and eaten safely.<ref name=":0" />
== Uses == Traditionally, the tree has been used by local African tribes in the belief that the plant is useful as a [[herbal medicine|therapy]] for various disorders.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Houghton |first1=P. J. |last2=Jâger |first2=A. K. |date=2002-02-01 |title=The sausage tree (''Kigelia pinnata''): ethnobotany and recent scientific work |journal=South African Journal of Botany |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=14–20 |doi=10.1016/S0254-6299(16)30448-3 |bibcode=2002SAJB...68...14H |issn=0254-6299|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The tree components contain diverse [[Phytochemical|phytochemicals]], including [[phenols]], [[Coumarin derivatives|coumarins]], [[Sterol|sterols]], [[Triterpene|triterpenes]], [[Diterpene|diterpenes]], [[Fatty acid|unsaturated fatty acids]], [[Quinone|quinones]], [[Iridoid|iridoids]], [[Alkane|alkanes]], and [[Ester|esters]].<ref name=":0" />
In Botswana, the timber is used for [[makoro]]s, yokes and oars.<ref name="Roodt" /> More generally, it is also used as fuel and for the construction of canoes, planks, fence posts, as well as crafting various household items such as containers, [[Musical instrument|musical instruments]], furnitures, and tool handles.<ref name=":0" /> Branches are also used for making [[Bow and arrow|bows]].<ref name=":0" /> Both the wood and fruit are carved into objects like [[Trapping|traps]], toys, and dining utensils, while the wood also provides [[Firewood|fuel]].<ref name=":0" /> The [[tannin]]-rich fruit pulp yields a black dye for colouring and dying purposes.<ref name=":0" /> Early use of the wood for wedge-shaped tools was discovered at [[Kalambo Falls]], [[Zambia]], dating to between 390,000 and 324,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Barham |first1=L. |last2=Duller |first2=G. A. T. |last3=Candy |first3=I. |last4=Scott |first4=C. |last5=Cartwright |first5=C. R. |last6=Peterson |first6=J. R. |last7=Kabukcu |first7=C. |last8=Chapot |first8=M. S. |last9=Melia |first9=F. |last10=Rots |first10=V. |last11=George |first11=N. |last12=Taipale |first12=N. |last13=Gethin |first13=P. |last14=Nkombwe |first14=P. |date=20 September 2023 |title=Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago |journal=Nature |volume=622 |issue=7981 |language=en |pages=107–111 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06557-9 |pmid=37730994 |s2cid=262084949 |issn=1476-4687 |quote=At Kalambo we also recovered four wood tools from 390 ka to 324 ka, including a wedge, digging stick, cut log and notched branch....Object 660 (''Kigelia africana''), 36.2 cm long, rounded on one side with outer bark on both surfaces, tapers to an offset point cut 60° across the long axis...object 660 ('wedge')... |doi-access=free |pmc=10550827 |bibcode=2023Natur.622..107B |hdl=10400.1/20204 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
Around Mount Kenya, especially among the [[Kikuyu people|Kikuyu]], [[Embu people|Embu]] and the [[Kamba people|Akamba]], the dried fruit are used to make an alcoholic mead beverage ({{Lang|kik|muratina}} in [[Kikuyu language|Kikuyu]]).<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Akimoto |first1=Taku |last2=Gichuru |first2=Simon G.G. |last3=Akimoto |first3=Toru |last4=Nakae |first4=Toshitaka |date=1986 |title=Higashiafurika no dentō-teki hakkō inryō kara bunri shita nyūsankin no dōtei to sho seijō |script-title=ja:東アフリカの伝統的発酵飲料から分離した乳酸菌の同定と諸性状 |trans-title=Identification and Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Fermented Beverages in East Africa |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/chikusan1924/57/3/57_3_265/_article/-char/ja/ |journal=Nihon Chikusan Gakkaiho |language=ja |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=265–276 |doi=10.2508/chikusan.57.265|doi-access=free }}</ref> The harvested fruit is split into two along the grain, and soaked to make it less bitter, before being [[Sun-dried fruit|dried in the sun]].<ref name=":3" /> [[Sucrose|Cane sugar]] is then added to the fruit pieces.<ref name=":3" /> The fruit are [[Ethanol fermentation|fermented]] for anywhere between two and four days in a warm environment, with the final [[ethanol]] content being between 3 and 6%.<ref name=":3" />
The tree is widely grown as an [[Ornamental plant|ornamental tree]] in tropical regions for its decorative flowers and unusual fruit.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Areces-Berazain |first=Fabiola |date=2020-06-11 |title=''Kigelia africana'' (sausage tree) |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/cabicompendium.29403 |website=CABI Compendium |article-number=29403 |doi=10.1079/cabicompendium.29403|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Kigelia africana'' also holds significant cultural and spiritual importance for many African communities.<ref name=":0" /> The tree is held to be sacred, and the fruit are widely traded in local markets as [[Talisman|talismans]] that are thought to bring good luck in many different situations.<ref name=":0" />
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Sausage Tree in Botswana.JPG|A sausage tree in [[Botswana]] in use as an airport departure lounge File:Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) leaves (16463301755).jpg|Leaves, [[Kruger National Park]] File:Day 5 Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) flowers ... (53212474914).jpg|Inflorescence, Kruger National Park File:Pods on sausage tree (5107136371).jpg|Fruit, Kruger National Park File:Kigelia africana 02.jpg|Fruit, showing the exceptional length of the stems; Kenya File:Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus) male eating Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) fruit ... (52138245229).jpg|[[Chacma baboon]] eating the fruit </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Kigelia africana}} {{Wikispecies|Kigelia africana}} *{{GRIN}}
{{WestAfricanPlants|Kigelia africana}} {{Taxonbar|from1=Q3009148|from2=Q522883}}
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]] [[Category:Bignoniaceae genera]] [[Category:Trees of Africa]] [[Category:Fruits originating in Africa]] [[Category:Plants used in traditional African medicine]] [[Category:Decorative fruits and seeds]] [[Category:Monotypic Lamiales genera]]