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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Kigelia africana''
| image = Kigelia africana in Murchison Falls National Park.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Kigelia africana''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Kigelia'''''
| genus_authority = [[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]]
| binomial = ''Kigelia africana''
| binomial_authority = ([[Jean-Baptiste Lamarck|Lam.]]) [[George Bentham|Benth.]]
}}
'''''Kigelia''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Bignoniaceae]]. The genus comprises only one species, '''''Kigelia africana''''', which occurs throughout tropical [[Africa]] from [[Eritrea]] and [[Chad]] south to northern [[South Africa]], and west to [[Senegal]] and [[Namibia]].
The genus name comes from the Mozambican [[Bantu language|Bantu]] name, ''kigeli-keia'', while the common name '''Sausage Tree''' refers to the long, [[sausage]]-like fruit. Its name in [[Afrikaans]] ''Worsboom'' also reflects this distinctive feature.
It is a [[tree]] growing up to 20 m tall. The bark is grey and smooth at first, peeling on older trees. It is [[evergreen]] where rainfall occurs throughout the year, but [[deciduous]] where there is a long [[dry season]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three, 30–50 cm long, [[pinnate]], with six to ten oval leaflets up to 20 cm long and 6 cm broad; the terminal leaflet can be either present or absent. The [[flower]]s (and later the fruit) hang down from branches on long flexible stems (2-6 metres long). Flowers are produced in [[panicles]]; they are bell-shaped (similar to those of the [[african tulip tree]] but darker and more waxy), orange to reddish or purplish green, and about 10 cm wide. Individual flowers do not hang down but are oriented horizontally. Some birds are attracted to these flowers and the strong stems of each flower make ideal footholds. Their scent is most notable at night indicating their reliance on pollination by [[bat]]s, which visit them for pollen and nectar.
The [[fruit]] is a woody [[berry]] from 30–100 cm long and up to 18 cm broad; it weighs between 5–10 kg, and hang down on long, rope-like [[peduncle (botany)|peduncles]]. The fruit pulp is fibrous and pulpy, and contains numerous [[seed]]s. It is eaten by several species of [[mammal]]s, including [[Baboon]]s, [[Bushpig]]s, [[Savannah Elephant]]s, [[Giraffe]]s, [[Hippopotamus|Hippopotami]], [[monkey]]s, and [[porcupine]]s. The seeds are dispersed in their dung. The seeds are also eaten by [[Brown Parrot]]s and [[Brown-headed Parrot]]s, and the foliage by elephants and [[Greater Kudu]] (Joffe 2003; del Hoyo et al. 1997). Introduced specimens in Australian parks are very popular with [[cockatoos]].
===Cultivation and uses===
In African [[herbal medicine]], the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, from [[rheumatism]], snakebites, evil spirits, [[syphilis]], and even tornadoes (Watkins 1975). An alcoholic beverage similar to [[beer]] is also made from it. The fresh fruit is [[poison]]ous and strongly [[purgative]]; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation (Joffe 2003; McBurney 2004).
It is also widely grown as an [[ornamental tree]] in tropical regions for its decorative flowers and unusual fruit. Planting sites should be selected carefully, as the falling fruit can cause serious injury to people, and damage vehicles parked under the trees.
===Synonymy===
Some [[synonymy|synonyms]] are still accepted by a few [[horticulture|horticulturists]] as distinct species, but [[botany|botanical]] studies agree that the genus contains only one species (Joffe 2003, GRIN).
*''Bignonia africana'' Lam. ([[basionym]])
**''Tecoma africana'' (Lam.) G.Don
*''Crescentia pinnata'' Jacq.
**''Kigelia pinnata'' (Jacq.) DC.
*''Kigelia abyssinica'' A.Rich.
*''Kigelia aethiopica'' Decne.
==References==
{{commons|Kigelia africana}}
*del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1997). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 4: 415. Lynx Edicions.
*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''Kigelia''. In ''The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening'' 2: 735. Macmillan.
*Joffe, P. (2003). [http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/kigeliaafric.htm PlantZAfrica: ''Kigelia africana''].
*McBurney, R. (2004). [http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/scihort/ecbot/ecbot-harv.html African Wild Harvest]. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN): ''Kigelia africana''].
*[http://www.travelafricamag.com/content/view/715/72/ Travel Africa: Sausage Tree].
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Kigelia africana''
| image = Kigelia africana in Murchison Falls National Park.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Kigelia africana''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Kigelia'''''
| genus_authority = [[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]]
| binomial = ''Kigelia africana''
| binomial_authority = ([[Jean-Baptiste Lamarck|Lam.]]) [[George Bentham|Benth.]]
}}
'''''Kigelia''''' is a genus of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Bignoniaceae]]. The genus comprises only one species, '''''Kigelia africana''''', which occurs throughout tropical [[Africa]] from [[Eritrea]] and [[Chad]] south to northern [[South Africa]], and west to [[Senegal]] and [[Namibia]].
The genus name comes from the Mozambican [[Bantu language|Bantu]] name, ''kigeli-keia'', while the common name '''Sausage Tree''' refers to the long, [[sausage]]-like fruit. Its name in [[Afrikaans]] ''Worsboom'' also reflects this distinctive feature.
It is a [[tree]] growing up to 20 m tall. The bark is grey and smooth at first, peeling on older trees. It is [[evergreen]] where rainfall occurs throughout the year, but [[deciduous]] where there is a long [[dry season]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite or in whorls of three, 30–50 cm long, [[pinnate]], with six to ten oval leaflets up to 20 cm long and 6 cm broad; the terminal leaflet can be either present or absent. The [[flower]]s (and later the fruit) hang down from branches on long flexible stems (2-6 metres long). Flowers are produced in [[panicles]]; they are bell-shaped (similar to those of the [[african tulip tree]] but darker and more waxy), orange to reddish or purplish green, and about 10 cm wide. Individual flowers do not hang down but are oriented horizontally. Some birds are attracted to these flowers and the strong stems of each flower make ideal footholds. Their scent is most notable at night indicating their reliance on pollination by [[bat]]s, which visit them for pollen and nectar.
The [[fruit]] is a woody [[berry]] from 30–100 cm long and up to 18 cm broad; it weighs between 5–10 kg, and hang down on long, rope-like [[peduncle (botany)|peduncles]]. The fruit pulp is fibrous and pulpy, and contains numerous [[seed]]s. It is eaten by several species of [[mammal]]s, including [[Baboon]]s, [[Bushpig]]s, [[Savannah Elephant]]s, [[Giraffe]]s, [[Hippopotamus|Hippopotami]], [[monkey]]s, and [[porcupine]]s. The seeds are dispersed in their dung. The seeds are also eaten by [[Brown Parrot]]s and [[Brown-headed Parrot]]s, and the foliage by elephants and [[Greater Kudu]] (Joffe 2003; del Hoyo et al. 1997). Introduced specimens in Australian parks are very popular with [[cockatoos]].
===Cultivation and uses===
In African [[herbal medicine]], the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, from [[rheumatism]], snakebites, evil spirits, [[syphilis]], and even tornadoes (Watkins 1975). An alcoholic beverage similar to [[beer]] is also made from it. The fresh fruit is [[poison]]ous and strongly [[purgative]]; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation (Joffe 2003; McBurney 2004).
It is also widely grown as an [[ornamental tree]] in tropical regions for its decorative flowers and unusual fruit. Planting sites should be selected carefully, as the falling fruit can cause serious injury to people, and damage vehicles parked under the trees.
===Synonymy===
Some [[synonymy|synonyms]] are still accepted by a few [[horticulture|horticulturists]] as distinct species, but [[botany|botanical]] studies agree that the genus contains only one species (Joffe 2003, GRIN).
*''Bignonia africana'' Lam. ([[basionym]])
**''Tecoma africana'' (Lam.) G.Don
*''Crescentia pinnata'' Jacq.
**''Kigelia pinnata'' (Jacq.) DC.
*''Kigelia abyssinica'' A.Rich.
*''Kigelia aethiopica'' Decne.
==References==
{{commons|Kigelia africana}}
*del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1997). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 4: 415. Lynx Edicions.
*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''Kigelia''. In ''The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening'' 2: 735. Macmillan.
*Joffe, P. (2003). [http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/kigeliaafric.htm PlantZAfrica: ''Kigelia africana''].
*McBurney, R. (2004). [http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/scihort/ecbot/ecbot-harv.html African Wild Harvest]. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70392 Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN): ''Kigelia africana''].
*[http://www.travelafricamag.com/content/view/715/72/ Travel Africa: Sausage Tree].
[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
