Combretum zeyheri

Combretum zeyheri Sond.

Common names

Large fruit bushwillow; mufuka, mulama, kalama-fupi; mwalulankula (Bemba, Kunda); kadale, kagolo, mkute, ntemanyama, kalama-chimpanasa; kalama-fupa (Nyanja); kalama (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

Probably the most easily recognised of the Combretums due to its large fruit, C. zeyheri is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree up to 10 m in height. Bark brown or grey-brown, smooth to scaly; branchlets usually hairy. Leaves simple, opposite or in threes, up to 14 x 9 cm, papery, broadly to narrowly elliptic or obovate-elliptic or oblong elliptic, usually hairy when young. Scales rather inconspicuous. Petiole up to 1 cm long. Flowers stalkless, yellow, produced in unbranched axillary spikes up to 8 cm long, usually appearing with the new leaves (September-October). Fruit large, four-winged, 5 cm in diameter, drying golden brown (March-August).

Range and habitat

Combretum zeyheri is found from Kenya southwards throughout south tropical Africa. In the Luangwa valley it is found in valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket; mixed alluvial thicket; Combretum-Terminalia open woodland; and Combretum-Terminalia-Diospyros wooded grassland.