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The Camel’s Foot Tree (Piliostigma thonningii) is a flowering tree in the Fabaceae family of legumes. It is also known as Monkey Bread, Monkey Biscuit Tree, and Wild Bauhinia.

It grows to about 7 metres (23 feet) tall. 

It is native to eastern Africa. It is called Msabuni in Kiswahili, which means soap. By boiling its ashes and oil in water, a type of soap is created. 

It has leaves in the shape of a camel’s foot. 

The Camel’s Foot Tree has pink flowers.

The pods and pea-sized seeds are a source of blue dye, while black dye comes from the roasted seeds. Its boiled roots produce a red dye. The pods and roasted seeds are edible. 

It flowers in winter.   

Photographed in Nairobi, Kenya, August 2017.





Photographer: Martina Nicolls

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