Kumufungu - Dead Man’s tree

KUMUFUNGU  (kigelia africana)

Synonym: kigelia authiopica

Standard name: Sausage tree

Derivation of the name: Omufu - dead person.

Natural habitat and distribution in Bungoma: Habitat: wooded grassland, riverine woodland. Distribution:  found in open woodland, also near streams and in cultivated land. Becoming a rare species, more common in lower areas.

Description: Bark grey, rather smooth. Leaves  compound, crowded near the end of branches, 3-5 pairs of leaflets plus one terminal leaflet with petiole, leaflets sandpapery and leathery. Flower dark red with yellow veins, up to 12 trumpet shaped flowers on a pendulous spray up to 1m long, unpleasant smell but attractive to bats. Fruit large, sausage shaped and 30-90 cm long,  weighing up to 10 kg, hanging on long stalks that remain on the tree after the fruit has dropped.

Physical features: Shape: Tree 9-15 m high with deep hanging branches. Crown: rounded. Foliage: medium to dense, deciduous.

Biological Features: Mulch: the leaves decompose rather slowly and supply good mulch.

Tree/crop association: The tree is associated with any crop and often left in cultivated  fields, said to be non-competitive to crops.

Biomass production: slow-growing.

Other Characteristics: drought resistant, the fruit is poisonous when raw, the seed is edible when roasted, wood rather soft.

Reproduction: seeds.

Management: lopping.

Ecological benefits: diversity aspect, windbreak, soil conservation.

Tree products and use: fodder(leaves and flowers), bee-forage, fuelwood, charcoal, ornamental, shade, fermentation of local beer, bee-hive, mortar, light timber.

Medicinal application: leaves: used against bad dreams. Bark: STD, Root: disease in cattle. The tree is as well used to treat barrenness.

Story: Once upon a time, hunger loomed all over the forest. It was caused by a very long drought that killed almost every animal and all trees. There remained only Kumufungu and a camel. But the camel had nothing to eat while Kumufungu was believed to store food in its hanging fruits. The camel asked Kumufungu for food but the tree conditioned to be given water for each fruit. Therefore the camel went to fetch water from a very far country. In exchange it got a fruit every week which was enough food for the time being. When only two fruits remained on the tree the rain returned and other trees regerminated. The old Kumufungu was given the kingship of the forest.

Saying: Kumufungu breastfeeds itself.

if somebody is rejected or despised, he or she will say “ kumufungu breastfeeds itself “. This means that the person can support oneself, not depending on anybody’s favour.