Distribution Map

Kigelia africana subsp. africana

As at April 2024, 17 herbarium specimens, 7 photo records, 43 visual observations

South African Red List status: LC
Global Distribution: Also occurs outside southern Africa
Found within protected areas: Mlawula Mantenga
Flora Protection Act: Schedule C
Medicinal
Cultural uses
Other uses

Description (Compton's Flora of Swaziland*):
Kigelia africana - (Umvongotsi, Sausage Tree) Evergreen tree, up to 10 m high, broadly branching, densely leafy, hairless throughout. Leaf stalk c 5 cm long; leaflets c three pairs, stalkless, one terminal, all about same size, up to 11 cm long X 4 cm wide. Inflorescence up to c 40 cm long, hanging, with few large loose flowers, stalk c 3 cm long, bent at end so that flower is erect. Calyx c 3 cm long, leathery, ribbed, shortly 2-5-lobed; corolla deep reddish-purple or maroon, tube cylindrical below, widely bell-shaped above, up to 8 cm across, two-lipped; upper lip two-lobed, erect; lower three-lobed, turned downwards; stamens five of which one is sterile, anthers two-chambered, chambers separate; disc thick, five-lobed; ovary one-chambered with numerous ovules in several rows. Fruit sausage-shaped, hanging, sometimes 45 cm long x 8 cm diam, wall leathery, pulp fleshy, seeds wingless.

* Where species names have changed, these have been matched according to herbarium specimens quoted in this publication.

Notes:
Global distribution information: southern Africa includes southern Mozambique and southern Zimbabwe.
Restricted distribution has been based on an estimated extent of occurence of less than 100 000 km2 and/or an estimated area of occupancy of 100 km2, based on geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist data.