Grows straight up, only develops branches after some years. Slow growing. Deciduous, but only loses leaves for short period. Good but dangerous shade tree after 4-5 years.

Unripe fruit is poisonous, but ripe seeds may be roasted and eaten as a famine food. Baked fruits used to ferment local beer. Red dye obtained from boiled fruit. Fruit is used to cure skin diseases, including warts; ointment from seeds is now sold commercially as a cure for skin cancer; there is some evidence that it may be effective. Ash powder from fruits is used for sores and cuts and the roots are used to treat STD’s, rheumatism, palpitations, dysentery, and ulcers. Fruit extracts are used for cosmetics and skin lotions, have antimicrobial and skin healing properties.

Fruit hung from the roof of a hut is said to prevent whirlwinds.

Just before he first saw Victoria Falls, David Livingstone hitched camp underneath a sausage tree and carved his name in it; this area is now called Kazangula after the local name of the tree.

Indigenous Tree