Kigelia africana Lam., Benth.

Common name(s): Sausage Tree, Cucumber Tree

Family: Bignoniaceae Synonym(s): Bignonia africana Lam., Crescentia pinnata Jacq., Kigelia abyssinica A. Rich., Kigelia aethiopica Decne., Kigelia aethiopium Fenzl, Dandy, Kigelia erytraeae Mattei, Kigelia ikbaliae De Wild., Kigelia pinnata Jacq., DC., Kigelia somalensis Mattei, Kigelia talbotii Hutch. & Dalziel, Kigelia tristis A. Chev., Sotor aethiopium Fenzl, Tanaecium pinnatum Jacq., Willd., Tecoma africana Lam., G. Don

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 19th September, 2017 at Pondachery, India

Leaf (Back)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Unkown

Flowers

Taken by Unkown

Seeds

Taken by Unkown

Expand all

Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Mozambique

Mozambique: Indigenous

South Africa

KwaZulu: Indigenous
Limpopop: Indigenous
Mpumalanga: Indigenous

Eswatini

Swaziland: Indigenous

Tanzania, United Republic of

Tanzania: Indigenous

Zambia

Zambia: Indigenous

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Indigenous

Plant Type

Evergreen Tree , Deciduous Semi - Tree

Evergreen Tree,

Deciduous Semi - Tree

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Tropical, Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna

Tropical,

Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Open Woodlands, Rainforest - Tropical

Open Woodlands,

Rainforest - Tropical

Habitat Zone(s)

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Sandy Moist, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Open areas,

Riparian areas,

Rivers / Creeks / Streams,

Sandy Moist,

Water sides,

Well drained,

Wet Pockets

Mature Height

15-20m, 20-25m

15-20m,

20-25m

Mature Width

15-20m, 20-25m

15-20m,

20-25m

Plant Shape

Domed - Broad

Growth Rate

Slow

Maturity

12-14 yrs, 14-16 yrs

12-14 yrs,

14-16 yrs

Life Span

75-100yrs.

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Green-yellow, Glossy Semi, Green Light, Yellow-green

Green-yellow,

Glossy Semi,

Green Light,

Yellow-green

Colour (back)

Green-yellow, Green Light, Yellow-green

Green-yellow,

Green Light,

Yellow-green

Shape(s)

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Pinnate Leaflets 3 , Pinnate Leaflets 5 , Pinnate Leaflets 7 , Pinnate Leaflets 9

Pinnate Leaflets 3,

Pinnate Leaflets 5,

Pinnate Leaflets 7,

Pinnate Leaflets 9

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Leathery

Puberulent

Rough / Scabrous

Leathery,

Puberulent,

Rough / Scabrous

Texture (back)

Leathery

Puberulent

Leathery,

Puberulent

Rough / Scabrous

Compound Leaf Length

500-600mm

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Grey-brown

Colour(s) Lower

Grey

Texture(s) Upper

Papery

Smooth

Papery,

Smooth

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem Feature(s)

Bark - Sheds, Short Strips , Bark - Thin

Bark - Sheds, Short Strips,

Bark - Thin

Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter

500-550mm, 550-600mm, 600-650mm, 650-700mm, 700-750mm, 750-800mm

500-550mm,

550-600mm,

600-650mm,

650-700mm,

700-750mm,

750-800mm

Flower Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Time(s)

Annual Cycle

Flower Colour(s)

Burgundy-red, Red Dark

Burgundy-red,

Red Dark

Flower Shape(s)

Trumpet

Erect

Aroma(s)

Pungent-moderate

Flowers per Arrangement

6-7, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10, 10-12

6-7,

7-8,

8-9,

9-10,

10-12

Pollinator(s)

Bats

Fruit Properties

Type

Capsule - Ceratium

Outer Colour(s)

Grey-green

Outer Texture

Leathery

Dry , Hard

Dry,

Hard

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

Summer, Autumn, Winter

Summer,

Autumn,

Winter

Maturation for Fruiting

5 yrs., 6 yrs., 7 yrs.

5 yrs.,

6 yrs.,

7 yrs.

Root Properties

Type

Tap Plate

Invasiveness

High

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter

Clay,

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Hummus Rich,

Organic Matter

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Moist - Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist - Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W1 – Restricted tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR1 - keep soil wet at all times, WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

WR1 - keep soil wet at all times,

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,

WR3 - never let soil dry out,

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Good

Bird Attraction

Nectar, Insect, Habitat

Nectar,

Insect,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Good

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

None

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Good

Maintenance(s)

Dead Wooding, Pruning - Formative

Dead Wooding,

Pruning - Formative

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Park land, Garden-Modern, Fruit-interesting, Garden-Bonsai, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Litter Issue - Fruit, Sand Binder, Shade Tolerant, Shade tree-Heavy, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Park land,

Garden-Modern,

Fruit-interesting,

Garden-Bonsai,

Fruit-decorative,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Litter Issue - Fruit,

Sand Binder,

Shade Tolerant,

Shade tree-Heavy,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Specimen,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Cockatoo's,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Parrot's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6, FR11

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Strong Winds

General Notes

A large tree with unusual sausage shaped fruit hanging down from the branches. The burgundy flower is produced at night, smelling like a mouse which attracts bats that then visit for the pollen and nectar. The fruit is used in traditional medicine along with the leaves, bark and roots. because of the abundant nectar, birds, bees, insects and butterflies are attratce to the flower and the fallen flower is eaten by animals, monkeys and the like. It is highly valued and culturally significant to the African communities. Widely used as an ornamental shade tree in streets, parks and large gardens.