Russet bush-willow, Mouse-eared combretum
Combretum hereroense

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It can be up to 11 m tall, but is often 3-5 m tall. The trunk is often crooked and can be 23 cm across. The leaves can be oval or heart shaped. The leaves are 1.9-5 cm long by 1.3-2.5 cm wide. The are dark green and shiny above and yellow-green underneath. Often there are dense velvety hairs underneath. The flowers are small and white or greenish-yellow. They occur in long spikes. The fruit are 2.5 cm long by 1.9 cm wide. They have 4 wings. They are bright red.

There are about 255 Combretum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It often grows in stony and shallow soils. It grows at medium to low altitudes in open wooded grassland. It can grow in salty soils. It can tolerate drought. It grows between 30-1,465 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The dried fruit are used as a tea substitute. The seeds are considered poisonous and are removed. The fruit are also eaten fresh. The leaves are dried and used for tea.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea, gum

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds are best removed from the outer covering and soaked in water for a few hours. Seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks. Seedlings can be transplanted at the 3 leaf stage. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It is slow growing. Seedlings can reach one metre in 18-24 months.

Its other names

Local names

Fiti-tonga, Ithetshane, Kierieklapper, Livimbela, Macucumi, Mokabe, Mucandi, Murovamhuru, Mutechani, Mutumba, N'nari, Nacucuni, Naguegue, Naturua, Nkamouzoaye, Norupanari, Sihlalavane, Umdvubu, Umklalavane, Umphulumbu

Synonyms

Combretum transvaalensis Schinz.; Combretum rhodesiacum Bak.; Combretum porphyrolepis Engl. & Diels; Combretum hereroense Schinz var. villosissimum Engl. & Diels; Combretum transvaalense var. villosissimum Burtt Davy;