Knobbly bushwillow, Shaving-brush combretum
Combretum mossambicense

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A small tree or a woody climber. It loses its leaves during the year. The flowers usually develop before the leaves. The bark is grey to brown. The small branches are often pale. The leaves are opposite. The leaf blade can be 20 cm long by 11 cm wide. It is often smaller. It is papery to leathery. They are oval and hairy when young. They taper to the tip and are rounded at the base. There is a curved spine on the leaf stalk. The flowers are in spikes in the axils of the leaves. These are 5 cm long. The flowers are pink or white. The fruit have 5 wings and are 2-3 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. They are oval and hairy.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry shrub savanna. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It grows on termite mounds in hot dry areas. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ecotamo, Fune-funte, Marorwe, Mubondorokoto

Synonyms

Combretum armatum E. Phillips; Combretum cataractarum Diels; Combretum constrictum Diels; Combretum detinens Dinter; Combretum floribundum N. E. Br. ex Diels; Combretum ischnothyrsum Engl. & Diels; Combretum migeodii Exell; Combretum quangense Engl. & Diels; Combretum rigidifolium Welw. ex Hiern; Combretum tomentosum sensu Sims; Combretum trichopetalum Engl.; Combretum ukambense Engl.; Poivrea glutinosa Klotzsch; Poivrea mossambicensis Klotzsch; Poivrea senensis Klotzsch;