Combretum obovatum
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Combretum lasiocarpum sensu Exell & Garcia |
| Common names: | Spiny white-leaved bushwillow (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Usually a semi-evergreen scrambling shrub with long trailing branches. Branches often armed with blunt spines, formed by the hardened remains of old petioles. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled, obovate to obovate-oblong, usually up to 7 cm long, dull green and hairless above, much paler and densely velvety below; margin entire. Showy bract-like silvery-white leaves subtend the inflorescences. Flowers in dense spherical axillary heads, dark brown with long white stamens, subtended by the white leaves. Fruit usually 5-winged, 3-3.5 cm long, hairy with very corrugated wings, pale straw-coloured when dry. |
| Type location: |
Tanzania |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | obovatum: with obovate leaves |
| Habitat: | Often forming thickets in riverine scrub and along the base of escarpments. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | Nov - Jan |
| Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
| FZ divisions: | T |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Monday 31 May 2010 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 681. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 808. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 263. Exell, A.W. (1978). Combretaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 147 - 148. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 35. |
Other sources of information about Combretum obovatum:
Our websites:
Flora of Zambia: Combretum obovatumFlora of Zimbabwe: Combretum obovatum
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Combretum obovatumAfrican Plant Database: Combretum obovatum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Combretum obovatum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Combretum obovatum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Combretum obovatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Combretum obovatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Combretum obovatum
JSTOR Plant Science: Combretum obovatum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Combretum obovatum
Plants of the World Online: Combretum obovatum
Tropicos: Combretum obovatum
Wikipedia: Combretum obovatum