Flame combretum, Burning-bush combretum
Combretum paniculatum

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

It is usually a vigorous climber or scrambling bush. It can be a small tree 3-4 m high. The bark is grey to pale brown. The leaves are opposite and oval. They are 18 cm long by 9.5 cm wide. They are thinly leathery. They are glossy dark green but paler underneath. The veins are yellow and like a net. The base has shallow lobes. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. The flowers are bright red with very red stamens. The petals are 2.5 mm across. The flowers are in small clusters but the large number along the stem create a showy display. The fruit are 4 winged. They are 2 cm across. They are pink or red when young and dry to a pale brown.

There are about 255 Combretum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in areas of high rainfall on the edges of evergreen forest. It also grows in savannah woodland. In Malawi it grows between 600-1,600 m altitude. It is damaged by drought and frost. It can tolerate flooding. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are added to soups and as a potherb. The stem sap is used as a drink.

The flowers are sucked by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, nectar, flowers, stem sap, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akoti, Bambagwena, Bayie, Mupfurura, N'kambam, Omeha

Synonyms

Combretum abbreviatum Engl.; and several others