Combretum collinum

Combretum collinum Fresen.

Common names

Bush willow (English); mufuka, kaunda, munondwe (Bemba, Kunda); kalama, kakunguni, kangolo, mlowe, mweti, mtebelebe, mkute (Nyanja)

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A deciduous shrub or small tree up to 17 m tall but usually much smaller in the Luangwa valley. There are at least three sub-species of Combretum collinum in the valley. Their differences are described below. Bark highly variable depending on sub-species. Leaves simple, opposite or alternate, up to 19 x 8 cm, highly variable in shape, covered in scales, although these may be hidden in hairy leaves. Petiole up to 3 cm long. Flowers white or yellowish green produced in axillary spikes or panicles up to 10 cm long (July-November). Fruit 4-winged, variable in shape and colour (see below) but comparatively large (>3.6 cm long) and with a distinct metallic sheen (ripen May-August).

The sub-species recorded in the valley, and their distinguishing characteristics are as follows:

Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp. gazense (Swynn. & Baker) Okafor

Leaves distinctly hairy beneath, at least on the midrib, and with prominent reticulation. Fruit usually more than 3.6 cm long, usually without hairs but densely covered with conspicuous red scales.

Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp. ondongense (Engl. & Diels) Okafor

Leaves hairless beneath or almost so. Fruit usually more than 3.8 cm long, hairless with red scales. Inflorescence branched.

Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp. suluense (Eng. & Diels) Okafor

Leaves hairless beneath or almost so. Fruit 3.8-5cm long, densely hairy, red scales conspicuous. Inflorescence unbranched.

Range and habitat

Combretum collinum is widespread in southern Africa. In the valley, all three subsp. are found in the escarpment foothills. Sub-species ondongense is usually found associated with hill miombo woodland while sub-species gazense and suluense are associated with Combretum-Terminalia-Burkea woodland and Combretum-Terminalia-Diospyros wooded grassland respectively. Sub-species suluense is the most common form of this species in the valley.