Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
By rd from Shashe Wilderness Camp to the National Parks office

Photo: Bart Wursten
Pokoteke Gorge, near Masvingo

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Synonyms:	Combretum glomuleriflorum Sond. Combretum lyndenburgianum Engl. & Diels Combretum salicifolium sensu Munro
Common names:	River bushwillow (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Medium-sized spreading tree, sometimes multi-stemmed and branching low down. Bark pale grey, smooth, flaking and mottled in older specimens. Leaves, sub-opposite, whorled or sometimes alternate, elliptic, up to 10 × 4 cm, usually about 5 × 2 cm, yellowish-green when young, medium-green above and hairless when older, yellowish-green and finely velvety below; margin entire, often finely hair-fringed. Flowers in dense almost spherical axillary heads, up to 2 × 1.5 cm, cream to pale yellow. Fruit 4-winged, 1-1.5 cm long, normally with a well-developed apical peg, shiny pale green when young, golden-brown when ripe.
Notes:	Leaves typically turn bright red to purple in autumn.
Derivation of specific name:	erythrophyllum: with red leaves
Habitat:	Along river banks.
Altitude range:	Up to 150 m
Flowering time:	Sep - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	Z,M
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 27 June 2009
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 670. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 263. Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture). Exell, A.W. (1978). Combretaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 112 - 114. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 35. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 47. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 55. as Combretum glomeruliflorum var. riparium

Other sources of information about Combretum erythrophyllum:

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Flora of Botswana: Combretum erythrophyllum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Combretum erythrophyllum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Combretum erythrophyllum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Combretum erythrophyllum
African Plant Database: Combretum erythrophyllum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Combretum erythrophyllum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Combretum erythrophyllum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Combretum erythrophyllum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Combretum erythrophyllum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Combretum erythrophyllum
JSTOR Plant Science: Combretum erythrophyllum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Combretum erythrophyllum
Plants of the World Online: Combretum erythrophyllum
Tropicos: Combretum erythrophyllum
Wikipedia: Combretum erythrophyllum