Combretum apiculatum

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Myrtales

Familia: Combretaceae
Subfamilia: Combretoideae
Tribus: Combreteae
Subtribus: Combretinae
Genus: Combretum
Species: Combretum apiculatum
Subspecies: C. a. subsp. apiculatum – C. a. subsp. leutweinii
Name

Combretum apiculatum Sond., Linnaea 23: 45 1850.
References

Sonder, W. 1850. Beiträge zur Flora von Südafrica. Linnaea 23: 1–138. BHL Reference page. : 23:45.

Links

Hassler, M. 2019. Combretum apiculatum. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 October 24. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Combretum apiculatum in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 October 24. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Combretum apiculatum. Published online. Accessed: October 24 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Combretum apiculatum. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 October 24.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Combretum apiculatum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Rooiboswilg, Rooiblad, Rooibos
English: Red bushwillow, Sabi willow, Hill combretum
Otsiherero: Omumbuti
nd: mBondo, inPembele
Sesotho sa Leboa: Mohwelere, Mohwelere-tshipi, Mogoeleri
chiShona: Rukweza, Muhuhu (n-Zim)
SiSwati: imBondwo, imBondvo, umBondomnyama, inKukutu
Kiswahili: Kunganungo, Mlama, Mnama mweusi, Mrama, Mughombo, Mughomboghombo
Setswana: Mogodiri, Mohwidiri
Xitsonga: Xikukutsi, Xikukutsu, Xkukutsu, Shikukutse, Ndhuva
Tshivenda: Musingidzi, Mugavhi, Muvuvha
isiZulu: umBondwe, umBondwe-omnyama, nKalanga (s-Zim), muGarasaka (s-Zim)

Combretum apiculatum is a species of tree in the family Combretaceae known by the common name red bushwillow. It is native to the mesic to semi-arid savanna regions of Africa, southwards of the equator.

Description

This is a semi-deciduous tree growing up to 10 meters tall, or sometimes a shrub remaining shorter. It has rough gray-black bark with fissures, and the smaller branches may be woolly in texture. The oppositely arranged leaves are up to 11[1] to 13[2] centimeters long. They are hairless or hairy. The tip of the leaf tapers abruptly to a twisted point.[1][2] The foliage turns reddish or golden in the fall.[3] The spike inflorescences emerge between the leaves and are up to 7 centimeters long. They bear yellow or greenish flowers with tiny sepals and petals, and with style and stamens about half a centimeter long.[2] The flowers have a strong scent.[3] The reddish, winged fruit is 2 or 3 centimeters long.[1][2]
Subspecies

There are two subspecies, the southern ssp. apiculatum, and ssp. leutweinii, which occurs from Namibia to Malawi and northwards, which is differentiated by its more hirsute leaves.[3]
Range and habitat

It occurs in South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe,[1] southern Angola, Zambia, Malawi, southeastern DRC, Tanzania and southern Kenya.[4]

This tree occurs in various ecosystems in southern Africa. It is the dominant tree on the savanna in many areas,[5][6] including regions characterized as lowveld and mopane savanna. It grows alongside other woody vegetation such as common hook thorn (Acacia caffra), sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea), large sourplum (Ximenia caffra), livelong (Lannea discolor), white seringa (Kirkia acuminata), and marula (Sclerocarya caffra).[5]
Utilization by game and livestock

Many animals use the tree, especially for food. Kudu, bushbuck, elands, giraffes, and elephants browse the leaves.[3] Eland are so attracted to the tree that they can do damage to it with their feeding.[7] The brown-headed parrot eats the seeds.[1]

Cattle also eat the leaves. The fruits are hazardous to livestock, however, because they are toxic.[3] The foliage can be fed to goats as a supplemental fodder.[8]
Human use
C. apiculatum logs, showing dark heartwood and pale sapwood
C. apiculatum fruit, a winged achene containing one seed

This tree has dense (1.15),[9] fine-grained, strong, dark brown to black heartwood, sometimes used as firewood or for making charcoal.[1] It is hard, and termite-resistant.[3] The tree responds well to coppicing, growing back with plentiful foliage.[10] The bark has been used in leather tanning.[3] Medicinal uses for the species include the treatment of conjunctivitis and stomach ailments.[1][3] It contains a number of antioxidant compounds, such as cardamonin, pinocembrin, quercetin, and kaempferol.[11] It is an appropriate garden tree, as it is tolerant of frost and drought and provides shade.[3]
Vernacular names

Common names for the tree in other languages include rooiboswilg (Afrikaans), umbondwe (Zulu), imbondvo (Swazi), mohwidiri (Tswana), mohwelere (Sepedi), muvuvha (Tshivenḓa), ndhuva (Tsonga),[3] rukweza (Shona), and omumbuti (Herero).[12]
References

Schmidt, E., et al. Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media. 2002. pg. 456.
Combretum apiculatum. Flora Zambesiaca Volume 4 Part 0 (1978). Combretaceae by A. W. Exell. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.
Masupa, T. and E. Rampho. Combretum apiculatum (Sond.) subsp. apiculatum. PlantZAfrica.com, Pretoria National Herbarium, January, 2011.
"Combretum apiculatum Sond". GBIF.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
Walker, B. H. A review of browse and its role in livestock production in southern Africa. In: Le Houérou, H. N., Ed. Browse in Africa: The Current State of Knowledge. International Symposium on Browse in Africa. Addis Ababa. April 8–12, 1980.
Bengtsson-Sjörs, K. (2006). Establishment and survival of woody seedlings in a semi-arid savanna in southern Botswana.[permanent dead link] Committee of Tropical Ecology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Nyengera, Reason; Sebata, Allan (2010). "Effect of eland density and foraging on Combretum apiculatum physiognomy in a semi-arid savannah". African Journal of Ecology. 48 (1): 45–50. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01071.x.
Aganga, AA; Monyatsiwa, CB (1999). "Use of browses (Terminalia serecia, Combretum apiculatum or Euclea schimperi) as a supplement for growing Tswana goats". Tropical Animal Health and Production. 31 (5): 295–305. doi:10.1023/A:1005203806867. PMID 10509422. S2CID 40488093.
"African Wood Density Database". worldagroforestry.org. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
Smit, G N (2003). "The coppicing ability of Acacia erubescens and Combretum apiculatum subsp. apiculatum in response to cutting". African Journal of Range & Forage Science. 20 (1): 21–7. doi:10.2989/10220110309485794. S2CID 86667462.
Aderogba, M.A.; Kgatle, D.T.; McGaw, L.J.; Eloff, J.N. (2012). "Isolation of antioxidant constituents from Combretum apiculatum subsp. Apiculatum" (PDF). South African Journal of Botany. 79: 125–31. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2011.10.004.

Quattrocchi, Umberto (2012). CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants : common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC. p. 1071. ISBN 9781420080445.

Taxon identifiers

Wikidata: Q14504729 Wikispecies: Combretum apiculatum APD