Kigelia africana anthers

The four stamens of this sausage tree flower are poised to perform their designated function, i.e. to donate pollen surreptitiously but indiscriminately to all comer nectar seekers. Kigelia africana flowers are for instance visited at night by epauletted fruit bats, also by many day active birds and possibly all hour insects recruited by nectar enticement for delivering pollen.

The stamens reach just beyond the mouth of the maroon corolla that presents ample colour contrast against the green backdrop of the tropical forest to be noticed. Those insects that can't see red can presumably see contrast.

The invitation to feast is delivered in the form of a distinct aroma, unpleasant to people, but ensuring that even nectar consumers needing glasses will not miss out. The curving filaments, pale and fleshy, hold the yellow anthers at the ready, not easily missed by the visitor with intimate intent.

The undulating to crinkly corolla surface is irregularly shaped, not radially symmetric, its margins curving down as in many platforms (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).