- Kigelia
Taxobox
name = "Kigelia africana"
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Kigelia africana"
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo =Lamiales
familia =Bignoniaceae
genus = "Kigelia"
genus_authority = DC.
binomial = "Kigelia africana"
binomial_authority = (Lam.) Benth."Kigelia" is a genus of
flowering plant s in the familyBignoniaceae . The genus comprises only one species, "Kigelia africana", which occurs throughout tropicalAfrica fromEritrea andChad south to northernSouth Africa , and west toSenegal andNamibia .The genus name comes from the Mozambican Bantu name, "kigeli-keia", while the common name Sausage Tree refers to the long,
sausage -like fruit. Its name inAfrikaans "Worsboom" also means Sausage Tree, and itsArabic name means "the father of kit bags" (Roodt 1992).It is a
tree growing up to 20 m tall. The bark is grey and smooth at first, peeling on older trees. It can be as thick as 6 mm on a 15-cm branch (Roodt 1992). The wood is pale brown or yellowish, undifferentiated and not prone to cracking (Roodt 1992).The tree is
evergreen where rainfall occurs throughout the year, butdeciduous where there is a longdry season . The 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. Theflower s (and later the fruit) hang down from branches on long flexible stems (2-6 metres long). Flowers are produced inpanicles ; they are bell-shaped (similar to those of theafrican 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 bybat s, which visit them for pollen and nectar.The
fruit is a woodyberry from 30–100 cm long and up to 18 cm broad; it weighs between 5–10 kg, and hang down on long, rope-like peduncles. The fruit pulp is fibrous and pulpy, and contains numerousseed s. It is eaten by several species ofmammal s, includingBaboon s,Bushpig s,Savannah Elephant s,Giraffe s, Hippopotami,monkey s, andporcupine s. The seeds are dispersed in their dung. The seeds are also eaten byBrown Parrot s andBrown-headed Parrot s, and the foliage by elephants andGreater Kudu (Joffe 2003; del Hoyo et al. 1997). Introduced specimens in Australian parks are very popular withcockatoos .Cultivation and uses
In African
herbal medicine , the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, fromrheumatism , snakebites, evil spirits,syphilis , and even tornadoes (Watkins 1975). An alcoholic beverage similar tobeer is also made from it. The fresh fruit ispoison ous and stronglypurgative ; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation (Joffe 2003; McBurney 2004). In Botswana the timber is used formakoro s, yokes and oars (Roodt 1992). Kigelia is also used in a number of skin care products.The tree is 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.ynonymy
Some synonyms are still accepted by a few horticulturists as distinct species, but 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.Gallery
References
*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.
*Roodt, Veronica (1992). "Kigelia Africana" in "The Shell Field Guide to the Common Trees of the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve". Gaborone, Botswana: Shell Oil Botswana
* [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] .
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