Weeping bushwillow, Variable bushwillow
Combretum collinum

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 8-10 m tall. It loses many leaves during the year. The crown can be rounded or flat. The bark is reddish brown or pale brown. The leaves can be opposite or alternate. The leaf blade is 20 cm long by 8 cm wide. It varies in shape. There are 6-14 pairs of side veins. The flower clusters are 10 cm long and usually in the axils on the current year's growth. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are brown to purple and 3-5 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They vary in shape. There are several subspecies.

The gum is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Namibia it grows in deep sand. It grows in wooded savanna. It grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 200 mm and above. It grows in sandy and rocky soils. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The gum is edible and is eaten throughout the year.

Edible parts

Gum

How it is grown

It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It grows slowly. The gum is especially produced in winter.

Its other names

Local names

Aitopongo, Chinabado, Ekuloin, Imbondvo, Kiguifouan, Lemhlophe, Mubutu, Mucubunda, Mufitikaranje, Mufuka, Muhwezha, Munondwe, Muramba, Muruka, Umkhosikazi, Umukoyokoyo

Synonyms

Combretum abercornense Exell; Combretum album De Wild.; Combretum angustilanceolatum Engl.; Combretum banjonense Sim; Combretum binderanum Kotschy; Combretum burrtii Exell; Combretum cognatum Diels; Combretum coriaceum Schinz; Combretum eylesii Exell; Combretum gazense Swynnerton & Bak.f.; Combretum griseiflorum S. Moore; Combretum junodii Dummer; Combretum laeteviride Engl. & Gilg.; Combretum mechowianum O. Hoffm.; Combretum milleranum Burtt Davy; Combretum monticola Engl. & Gilg.; Combretum ondongense Engl. & Diels; Combretum schinzii Engl. & Diels; Combretum suluense Engl. & Diels; Combretum taborense Engl.; Combretum tophamii Exell ex Burtt Davy & Hoyle;