Here we have the oddly named ‘Sausage Tree’ (Kigelia africana). This tree, which can reach a height of around 20 metres, is a popular source of shade for wildlife on hot days. However, if you ever find yourself underneath one be careful of falling fruits – at around 13kg they can hurt! The long sausage like fruits (below) of this tree are what give it its popular name and they can reach a length of just under a metre. In their raw form these fruits can be poisonous to humans, but animals don’t seem to have a problem with them. However, when dried and prepared correctly, they can be used in some food and medicinal products and I’m told even in anti-ageing cream! As well as their strange looking fruits, these trees produce a red flower which blooms at night providing food for bats and insects.
