What is Kigelia?

Kigelia is a genus with only one kind, Kigelia Africana , a flowering tree that grows in tropical Africa. It is commonly called a sausage tree because of its long wooden fruit. The fruit is poisonous when it is raw but is prepared by baking, drying or fermentation for use in the kitchen and traditional medicine. Kigelia Africana is also grown as an ornamental plant, especially in tropical areas of the world, for its interesting flowers and fruit.

This species can reach a height of 66 feet (20 meters). It is evergreen in areas with abundant rainfall all year round, but deciduous, loses its leaves seasonally in areas with a dry season. The gray bark of the sausage tree is smooth when it is young but on the older tree. The wood is light brown to yellow and resistant to cracking. The -flowers are velvety on the inside and produce abundant nectar and pollen. The tree is pollinated by birds and bats. Fruits can weigh up to £ 20 (9 kg). Although poisonous to people, the berries are consumed by mammals andBirds, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, monkeys, cockatoos and parrots who distract the seeds in their manure. Some animals also eat leaves.

people have developed many uses for Kigelia Africana . In African folk medicine, berries are used to treat rheumatism, snake, syphilis and ulcers, as well as to avert evil spirits and tornadoes. The fruit is also used in cosmetic products and fermented to produce an alcoholic beverage. Wood Kigelia Africana It is used to make furniture, fruit boxes and traditional canoes Botswanan called Macoros. The seeds can be baked and consumed and roots can be used to create a yellow dye.

Kigelia Africana is grown well outside its natural range, in places such as Australia, India, Hawaii and California. It is prone to frost and requires a lot of sunlight and compost. The tree should be slightly connected. It is easy to spread from hereEN and grows fast. Large, fibrous fruit can cause damage when it falls from the tree, and the roots can be invasive, so there should be considered a place where a sausage tree is planted.