Silver combretum, Peeling bushwillow
Combretum psidioides

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It can grow up to 17 m high. The bark is grey, rough and corky and flakes off. The leaf blades are hairy. The leaves are opposite. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are 2-3 cm long and wide. They have 4 wings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on sandy soils in shrub savanna. It grows in hot drier areas at medium altitudes. It grows in rainfall of 400 mm. It grows in deep, well-drained soils. It grows between 900-1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The powered bark is used as flavouring for cooked potherbs. It is also used to flavour marula wine. The damaged tree produces edible gum. The fruit are used for flavouring.

Edible parts

Gum, bark - flavouring, fruit - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Giuama, Gloa, Iwupu, Mulondwe, Mutubi, Omalo

Synonyms

Combretum brachypetalum R. E. Fr.; Combretum grandifolium F. Hoffm.; Combretum omahekae Gilg. & Dinter ex Engl.; Combretum psidioides subsp. katangense Duvign.;