Combretaceae - Bushwillow family
SA Tree no 538
This tree is most often seen around pans, in rocky areas and sometimes on stream banks. It is common in the Lowveld, and usually occurs in closely associated groups.
The pods are characteristically the four-winged Combretum shape, but rather smaller than those of similar-sized Combretum trees. This is a small (3 - 5 m) multi-stemmed tree with one or more thick, crooked, often curved stems.
It has an overall coppery appearance often from January to July, owing to the presence of large numbers of red-brown pods borne conspicuously on the canopy. It is densely branched, with new young branches forming very straight, upward shoots. The bark is dark grey, rough with longitudinal grooves that sometimes peel off.
Links with animals - The leaves are eaten by kudu, impala, steenbok, elephant and giraffe.
Human uses - The wood is used as supports in mines, and to make pick and hoe handles. Straight branches are used to make kieries (walking sticks). The seeds are used to make tea.
Gardening - This is not an attractive garden plant, other than in autumn when it is covered by coppery seeds. It should grow well in most gardens as it is drought-resistant and can withstand fairly severe frost.
Leaves - Simply, opposite or sub-opposite, elliptic to heart-shaped with a smooth margin, bi-coloured with dark green above, grey-green and covered with brown velvety hairs below.The lateral veins are prominent on the under surface; apex rounded, notched, rarely tapering. 30 x 20 mm)
Flowers - Sweet-scented, white-cream to yellow flower spikes appear from August to October, just before or after the leaves; often in scars left by old leaves.(Each spike: 60 mm)
Pods - The four-winged pods borne in prominent branches are characteristically Combretum . They are brilliant russet-red in summer, changing to a light, coppery-brown later in the season. Pods remain on the tree for long periods - often until July.
Best places to see the Russet Bushwillow in Southern Africa:
The Russet Bushwillow is found in the Kruger National Park in the Mixed Bushwillow Woodlands, Pretoriuskop Sourveld, Malelane Mountain Bushveld, Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets, Thorn Veld, Knob Thorn / Marula Savannah, Olifants Rugged Veld, Mopane Scrubveld, Alluvial Plains, Tree Mopane Savannah & Mopane / Bushwillow Woodlands ecozones.
 Tree species of Southern Africa >> Printable Tree List <<
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The Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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