Sausages on Trees?

Last week, I stopped at a nearby nusery to check out their inventory.  They always seem to have a wide variety of tropicals and advertise great discounts along the roadside.  I wanted to see for myself.  I was greeted by this massively beautiful tree growing in the parking lot providing tremendous amounts of cooling shade in the heat of the Florida midday.  What a nice welcome!

The canopy is huge! 

But I don't recognize this kind of tree and there is something odd hanging from the branches.  The creative nursery owners probably hung pretty orchids or pitcher plants to create interest and enhance the tropical atmosphere for clients.

A closer look reveals the unusual blooms are part of the tree itself.

But none of the blooms are open.  What in the world is this strange tree?  I LOVE it!

I pick up an open bloom from the ground for a closer look.  I've never seen anything like it.  I have to ask someone who works at the nursery.

I'm informed this lovely speciman is called a SAUSAGE TREE. 

Sausages on trees?! That's silly...

...unless you live in Africa where Sausage Trees are quite common, apparently. Now, I don't indulge in sausage, myself, but being a native Midwesterner, I know the importance of sausage to sausage lovers. Italians grill them with peppers and onions 

while farmers enjoy sausage and biscuits as a hearty meal for breakfast.

But really...sausage on trees?

Well, not pork sausage, anyway. 

These trees get their name from the appearance of the fruit they bear.

And the blooms, along with their fragrance, show up at night to be pollinated by bats.  Interesting.

You can find out more about the sausage tree here and here .

You can also check out other HOT, LOUD and PROUD plants at

Noel's blog, A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii. 

Drop on by and see what's HOT this month!!