Combretum fragrans

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It can grow up to 12 m tall. The leaves are opposite and oval. They are 7-18 cm long. They are scaly and sticky underneath when young. The flowers have a scent. They appear before the leaves. They are small and in spikes 7 cm long. The fruit are rounded and yellow-brown. They are 3 cm long and have 4 wings. Young fruit are red and sticky.

Probably now Combretum adenogonium;

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in seasonally waterlogged soils. It is often in shallow and stony soils. It can grow in woodland and semi-desert. It grows between 50-1,700 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, gum

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seeds. The wings are rubbed off. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Buski, Gulmema, Hajef, Merhad, Shaf, Shuf, Tenkeleba

Synonyms

Combretum ghasalense Engl. & Diels;