A tree indigenous to the open woodlands and savannas from sub-Saharan central Africa to South Africa with distinctive sausage-like fruits. The tree has traditional medicinal applications and modern research too has delved into its medicinal potential, with extracts showing promise against several bacteria strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans​. The tree's fruits have been used in times of food scarcity, albeit in a roasted form to mitigate their poisonous nature in a raw state.
The tree has ornamental appeal with dark red, bell-shaped flowers that bloom seasonally, opening at night and exuding a fetid aroma. Photographed in Barranquilla, Colombia.