This unusual African tree is the Sausage Tree, Kigelia africana.

Its common name comes from its remarkable fruits, which are large, heavy, and shaped somewhat like oversized sausages. They hang from the branches on long, rope-like stalks and can remain on the tree for many months.

The flowers are also distinctive. They are dark red to maroon, trumpet-shaped, and often open at night. Their strong scent attracts bats, which are important pollinators of the tree.

The leaves are compound, with several broad leaflets arranged along a central stalk. In seasonally dry climates, the tree may lose some or all of its leaves before producing new growth.

The fruits are not normally eaten raw. They are hard, fibrous, and potentially toxic unless specially prepared. In parts of Africa, different parts of the tree have been used traditionally, but those uses require considerable knowledge and caution.

Because the fruits are so large and heavy, it is wise not to stand directly beneath them when they are mature.

The Sausage Tree is native to tropical Africa, where it often grows near rivers and other seasonally moist areas. Even when it is not flowering, the hanging fruits make it one of the most memorable trees in the Garden.