Sausage Tree

Naming

The genus name comes from the Mozambican Bantu name, ''kigeli-keia'', while the common names sausage tree and cucumber tree refer to the long, sausage-like fruit. Its name in Afrikaans ''Worsboom'' also means Sausage Tree, and its Arabic name means "the father of kit bags" .Swahili: mbungati, mwegea, mnyegea, mvongonya In Hindi ''Balam Kheera''."Hathi bailan'

Uses

In African herbal medicine, the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, from rheumatism, snakebites, evil spirits, syphilis, and even tornadoes . An alcoholic beverage similar to beer is also made from it. The fresh fruit is poisonous and strongly purgative; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation . In Botswana the timber is used for makoros, yokes and oars . 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.