Sausage Tree
Kigelia africana
Providing welcome shade on the grounds of a school near Moi's Bridge, Rift Valley, Kenya. March 2011.
A female Amethyst Sunbird investigates a sausage tree blossum for nectar. It appeared to me that the bird was piercing the flower tube, thus bypassing the pollination mechanism, i.e. the stamens and stigma that can be seen just inside the flower throat. March 2013.
TREE: A large spreading tree reportedly reaching a maximum of 20 meters
in height.
FLOWERS: Large, pink and brownish flowers hang in groups from tough,
pendulous spikes and open at night.
LEAVES: Leaves are up to 50 cm long and pinnately compound.
RANGE: Endemic tree in Kenya found in savanas and open woodlands.
FRUIT: Long heavy pods are woody and tough. They take many months to
ripen and then slowly open up as the flesh decays.
UNARMED. Without thorns, but I suppose one should watch for falling
fruit.
