Fauna
Plant

Sausage Tree

Kigelia africana

Also known as African Sausage Tree, Cucumber Tree

Sausage trees produce dramatic, blood-red blossoms that open exclusively at night, emitting a strong musky scent tailored to attract nectar-feeding fruit bats. Following pollination, massive woody fruits resembling giant sausages dangle beneath the canopy on long, rope-like stems, reaching lengths up to one meter. Elephants, baboons, and hippos eagerly consume the fallen blossoms and mature fruits, spreading seeds along African river valleys and savanna floodplains.

Bat-PollinatedFloweringTropical Tree
Sausage Tree reference1 / 7
(c) Charles Stirton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Charles Stirton · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • African Bush Elephant
  • Chacma Baboon
  • Hippopotamus
ThreatsHabitat clearing and localized over-harvesting for wood
HabitatsRiverine forests, floodplains, savanna woodlands, tropical riverbanks
Life span50–150 years
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyBignoniaceae
  3. GenusKigelia
  4. SpeciesKigelia africana
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Raw fruits cause severe intestinal distress and wild fruits have toxic look-alikes; never ingest based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Raw, unprocessed fruits contain irritants that cause severe oral inflammation and gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for enormous, gray, sausage-shaped woody fruits hanging from long cord-like stems beneath a spreading canopy.
What to do
Do not ingest raw plant parts, and remain aware of heavy hanging fruit when walking underneath mature trees.
Responsible observation
  • Flower Spotting: Look high in the canopy at dusk or night to see dark maroon blossoms open for bats.
  • Falling Fruit Caution: Avoid setting up camp or parking directly beneath heavy, fruit-laden branches.
  • Wildlife Watching: Scan beneath trees near African riverbanks early in the morning to spot animals feeding on fallen blooms.
Related species
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