It naturally occurs throughout tropical Africa, and is also common in India. The blood-red flowers bloom at night on long, ropelike stalks that hang down from the tree. It is pollinated by bats, insects and sunbirds in their native habitat. It’s called a sausage tree because the fruits that dangle in the tree look like giant sausages that can grow up to 0.6 m (2ft) long and weigh up to 6.8 kg (15 pounds)