Sausage Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sausage Tree
• Bologna Sausage Tree
• Fetishbean
• German Sausage Tree
• German-Sausage Tree
• Sheeps Tail

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tecoma africana
• Bignonia africana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Kigelia africana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Bignoniaceae and is categorized under the genus Kigelia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Kigelia africana, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina Faso. Additionally, the species is present in the nation of Gambia. Its geographical range further extends into the territory of Ghana. Finally, the plant is also documented to inhabit the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Kigelia africana is characterized by its preference for specific moisture-rich environments, predominantly inhabiting riverine forest ecosystems. This species is typically found at low-lying elevations, with a mean elevational range starting at 0 m AMSL and a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL. While it thrives in these lowland riparian zones, its ecological distribution extends up to a maximum elevation of 1070 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy a variety of niches within the transition zones of its primary riverine habitats.

Elevational range max:

1070 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

riverineforest

Life history

The life history of Kigelia africana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its native ecological niches. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground, typically manifesting as a large, woody tree that dominates its environment. This phanerophyte life form allows it to withstand various environmental conditions through its robust structural development, contributing to its enduring and stable lifecycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Kigelia africana is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant verticality, with its height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 25 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 14.2 m. Although it possesses self-supporting structural characteristics, it is categorized as a self-supporting climber within its growth habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

14.2 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kigelia africana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native environments. Morphologically, the leaf structure exhibits specific dimensions with a mean leaf length of 5.4 cm and a mean leaf width of 2.6 cm, parameters that influence its transpiration rates and light interception capabilities. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the soil's available nitrogen rather than through specialized symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf length mean:

5.4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Kigelia africana is characterized by a complex biological process involving biotic pollination and specialized seed characteristics. The flowering period is highly variable, with blooms potentially occurring across all months of the year, from January through December. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on bats as primary pollinators to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy fruits. The dispersal mechanism is classified as autochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed through mechanisms inherent to the plant itself. The resulting seeds exhibit specific morphological traits, including a mean seed mass of approximately 0.124765 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.071 g to a maximum of 0.2 g) and a mean length of 11.6 mm. Seed dimensions further include a maximum height of 3.4 mm and a maximum width of 6.7 mm, with a consistent mean seed volume of 130 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

variable

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

3.4 mm

Seed length mean:

11.6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.2 g

Seed mass mean:

0.124765 g

Seed mass min:

0.071 g

Seed volume max:

130 mm³

Seed width max:

6.7 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kigelia africana has 5 reported plant parts identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem, root, flower.

Leaf

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. EXCLI journal
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Fruit

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural products
3. Carbohydrate polymers
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Root

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. ChemistryOpen

Chemicals

Kigelia africana has 30 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Anthraquinones, Iridoids, Naphthoquinones.

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. EXCLI journal
5. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Tannins

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthraquinones

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Iridoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Naphthoquinones

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Terpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biological trace element research

Terpenoids

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Verbascoside

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

verminoside

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Kigelia africana has 11 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. EXCLI journal
4. Advances in pharmacological sciences
5. Journal of medicinally active plants

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences
3. Biological trace element research

Antibacterial

1. Journal of medicinally active plants
2. Biological trace element research

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Biological trace element research

Antiinflammatory

1. Biological trace element research

Antiproliferative

1. Biological trace element research

Antiulcer

1. EXCLI journal

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Kigelia africana has 22 reported investigations on conditions identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, cancer, analgesic, antioxidant, atherosclerosis.

Oxidative stress

1. EXCLI journal
2. BMC research notes
3. Journal of medicinally active plants

Cancer

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atherosclerosis

1. Tropical biomedicine

Breast cancer

1. Heliyon

Colorectal carcinoma

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fungal infections

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Infertility

1. BMC research notes

Preparations

Kigelia africana has 23 reported preparations identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include plant extracts, (Lam.) extract, 70 % hydroethanolic extracts, CH2Cl2 extracts, Methanolic extract.

Plant extracts

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
2. PloS one

(lam.) extract

1. Tropical biomedicine

70 % hydroethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ch2cl2 extracts

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic extract

1. Tropical biomedicine

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous leaf extract

1. EXCLI journal

Boiling plant parts especially the leaves and roots

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Dermal formulations

1. Journal of natural products

Dichloromethane and methanol extracts

1. Heliyon