Thanks to Sam and his huge Biology book, tonight we learned about this protein which signals tissue differentiation at the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA). It tells the cells in a limb bud which side will develop into posterior and which will develop into anterior (like little finger and thumb, respectively). I just thought the name was hilarious. Apparently hedgehog is a drosophila protein (fly) and Sonic is a video game character. The scientist must have liked playing the game I guess!

Ben and Camden cuddling THE BABIES on their hike today. They are so funny!

Ben and Camden had such fun on their hike at Koko Crater Botanical Garden today. They picked many plumeria for their mommies and Gramma, climbed trees, fought the terrible “cactopus” – a cactus that looked like an octopus – and had slow-mo sword fights. Then they found these huge sausage fruit things and took them to a bench and started rolling them like pizza dough, or making cookies. But in just seconds the “dough” transformed into babies and the boys were holding these 2 or 3 lb sausage things like little babies, cuddling and rocking them. They carried them like this all the way out the rest of the loop – over a mile! Camden named his “Fifi” and Ben named his “HE!” then changed it to “Jessica”. They were so funny. The “babies” rode in the truck on the way home.

So Tamara looked up the sausage tree this afternoon. Very interesting tree. Among her findings:

Cultivation and uses

In African herbal medicine, the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, from rheumatism, snakebites, evil spirits, syphilis, and even tornadoes (Watkins 1975). An alcoholic beverage similar to beer is also made from it. The fresh fruit is poisonous and strongly purgative; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation (Joffe 2003; McBurney 2004). In Botswana the timber is used for makoros, yokes and oars (Roodt 1992). Kigelia is also used in a number of skin care products.