Kigelia africana Syn.: Crescentia pinnata, Kigelia pinnata (Common name: Sausage Tree, Common Sausage Tree, Balam khira in Hindi) – Bignoniaceae, the mature fruits are seen dangling from the long stalks like giant sausages.
They may be up to two feet long and weigh up to 6 7 kg. The fruit, while not palatable for humans, is popular with hippos, baboons, and giraffes. Mainly grown as a curiosity and ornamental, both for its beautiful deep red flowers and its strange fruit. There are also a range of traditional uses for the fruit, varying from topical treatments for skin afflictions, to treatment for intestinal worms. There are some steroid chemicals found in the sausage tree that are currently added to commercially available shampoos and facial creams.
Reference
Surendra Parihar
Ex.Professor and Head.
Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
Pusa,
New Delhi,
India 110012