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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Combretum

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Myrtales > Family: Combretaceae

About 250 species, found in warm regions of the world including Australia and the Pacific Islands. A total of 39 species are native to southern Africa (including Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique), and a further six species are cultivated in the region.

Species native to southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI), Flora of Zimbabwe and Flora of Mozambique.

Combretum adenogonium (Four-leaved bushwillow, Four-leaved combretum)

Vierblaarboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum albopunctatum (Silver-dot bushwillow, Silver-dot combretum)

Okavango-boswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe

 

Combretum apiculatum (Red bushwillow, Glossy combretum)

Rooiboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum bracteosum (Hiccup-nut)

Hikklimop [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland

Combretum butyrosum

Distribution in southern Africa: Mozambique

 

Combretum caffrum (Cape Bushwillow)

Kaapse vaderlandswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Eastern Cape

Combretum celastroides (Trailing bushwillow, Jesse-bush combretum)

Rankboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

See Flora of Zimbabwe, where it is split into the subspecies C. c. celastroides and C. c. orientale.

Combretum collinum (Variable combretum, Weeping bushwillow)

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga, Limpopo; Swaziland; Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

Combretum coriifolium (Haroni combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe; Mozambique

 

Combretum edwardsii (Forest climbing bushwillow)

Bosklimop [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo; Swaziland

 

Combretum elaeagnoides (Grey jesse bushwillow, Grey jesse combretum)

Vaaljesse-boswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum engleri (Small sand bushwillow, Small sand combretum)

Kleinsandboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe

 

Combretum erythrophyllum (River bushwillow, River combretum)

Riviervaderlandswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Free State; Swaziland; Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

Combretum goetzei

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe

 

Combretum hereroense (Russet bushwillow, Mouse-eared combretum)

Kierieklapper [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Free State; Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum holstii (Mozambique burning-bush combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Mozambique

 

Combretum imberbe (Leadwood)

Hardekool [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West; Swaziland; Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum kirkii (Large-pod climbing combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe; ?Mozambique

See Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Combretum kraussii (Forest bushwillow)

Bosvaderlandswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo; Swaziland; Mozambique

 

Combretum microphyllum (Flame climbing bushwillow, Flame creeper, Burning-bush combretum)

Vlamklimop [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West; Swaziland; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

Combretum mkuzense (Maputaland Bushwillow)

Maputaland-raasblaar [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal; Mozambique

 

Combretum moggii (Rock bushwillow)

Rotsboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng

 

Combretum molle (Velvet bushwillow, Velvet-leaved combretum)

Fluweelboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Free State; Swaziland; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

Combretum mossambicense (Knobbly climbing bushwillow, Knobbly creeper, Shaving-brush combretum)

Knoppiesklimop [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum nelsonii (Waterberg bushwillow)

Waterberg-boswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga, Limpopo

 

Combretum obovatum (Spiny white-leaved combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe

Combretum oxystachyum

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Namibia

 

Combretum padoides (Thicket bushwillow, Thicket combretum)

Boskasieboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

See Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Combretum paniculatum (Forest burning-bush combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum petrophilum (Olifants river bushwillow)

Olifantsrivierboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Mpumalanga, Limpopo

 

Combretum pisoniiflorum (Mozambique wingless combretum)

Distribution in southern Africa: Mozambique

Combretum platypetalum

Distribution in southern Africa: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Combretum psidioides (Peeling bushwillow, Peeling-twig combretum, Savanna bushwillow)

Skilferboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

 

Combretum schumannii (Sand bushwillow)

Sandboswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia; Botswana

 

Combretum umbricola

Distribution in southern Africa: Zimbabwe

 

Combretum vendae (Venda bushwillow)

Venda-boswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > Limpopo

 

Combretum wattii (Kaoko bushwillow)

Kaoko-boswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia

 

Combretum woodii (Large-leaved forest bushwillow)

Grootblaarbosvaderlandswilg [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga; Swaziland

 

Combretum zeyheri (Large-fruit bushwillow, Large-fruit combretum)

Raasblaar [Afrikaans]

Distribution in southern Africa: South Africa > KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West; Swaziland; Namibia; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Mozambique

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Combretum cinereipetalum

Native to tropical Africa.

 

Combretum coccineum (Tamenaka, Tsilaitra)

Native to Madagascar.

 

Combretum constrictum

Native to tropical Africa.

 

Combretum farinosum (Bejuco angarilla)

Native from Mexico to Costa Rica.

 

Combretum fruticosum (Bejuco melero)

Native to tropical America.

 

Combretum racemosum

Native to tropical Africa.

 

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.