Biology:Combretum hereroense
| Russet bushwillow | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Combretaceae |
| Genus: | Combretum |
| Species: | C. hereroense
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| Binomial name | |
| Combretum hereroense Schinz, 1888
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| Synonyms | |
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Combretum hereroense, commonly known as the russet bushwillow and the mouse-eared combretum, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is found from eastern Africa to northern South Africa . Over its extensive range it is variable with respect to leaf shape, fruit size and indumentum.[2]
Range and habitat
It is found in southern Somalia, southern Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, southern Angola, northern Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa .[1][2][3] They occur from near sea level to about 1,500 m, or locally to 2,700 m.a.s.l. They are a constituent of dry, open bushland of various types, including mopane and secondary gusu woodlands.[2] They are regularly present on termite mounds,[1][2] the fringes of pans, marshes and dambos, or on river banks (in northern Kenya).[4] They occur in flat or rocky terrain, and thrive on sandy or silty substrates.[4]
Description
Habit
It is a much-branched, coppicing shrub with drooping[2] or rising branches. They grow to between 5 and 12 metres tall.[4]
Leaves
The simple, elliptic or obovate leaves are said to be shaped like mouse ears, hence the name Mouse-eared combretum. The leaves are glabrous above and velvety below, and are carried on short lateral twigs.[1] They usually have 3 to 4 pairs of lateral nerves.[2]
Flowers
The plants produce spikes with creamy white to yellowish flowers in the austral spring time, frequently before the foliage appears.
Fruit
The rufous brown, four-winged samaras average about 2 cm in diameter.[1]
Uses
Dried leaves are used for tea, the gum is eaten, the wood is harvested for fuel, and the roots are used in traditional medicine.[3]
Races and varieties
The accepted races and varieties are:[5]
- Combretum hereroense subsp. hereroense – southern Africa
- C. hereroense var. parvifolium (Engl.) Wickens
- C. hereroense var. villosissimum Engl. & Diels
- Combretum hereroense subsp. grotei (Exell) Wickens – Somalia
- Combretum hereroense subsp. volkensii (Engl.) Wickens – Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
Gallery
Foliage
Fruit
Sprays with fruit
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Hyde, M.. "Combretum hereroense Schinz subsp. hereroense". http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=141930.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Exell, A. W. (1978). "Combretaceae: Combretum hereroense Schinz Key". http://apps.kew.org/efloras/namedetail.do?qry=namelist&flora=fz&taxon=3360&nameid=8127.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fern, Ken. "Combretum hereroense Schinz". http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Combretum+hereroense.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Combretum hereroense Schinz". Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques & SANBI. 2012. http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=175378.
- ↑ "Combretum hereroense". http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Combretum+hereroense.
Wikidata ☰ Q13035166 entry
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