COMBRETACEAE

Combretum collinum

Weeping Bushwillow

Trees & Shrubs

Local Context

One of the rarer bushwillow species on Raptor's View Wildlife Estate. It grows on sandy soils or hill slopes across tropical Africa.

Identification

Growth: Small, semi-deciduous tree or shrub (usually up to 12–17 m tall) with a rounded to flat crown and bark that varies from reddish-brown or pale yellow to grey or black.
Flowers: Fragrant, white, cream, yellow, or yellowish-green, arranged in spikes or branching clusters (up to 10 cm long) growing from the leaf bases.
Leaves: Very variable in shape (up to 25 cm long), growing opposite, alternate, or in whorls; they are green above and paler below, often drying to a distinctive "metallic" brown, golden, or silvery color.
Texture: Leaves are leathery and conspicuously covered in tiny scales, ranging from hairless to densely hairy; the fruit is also scaly and sometimes densely hairy.
Fruit: A winged fruit (2.5–5.9 cm long) that turns brown, reddish, or dark purple, often with a metallic sheen and covered in conspicuous, sometimes red, scales.

Did You Know?

Also known as the Variable Bushwillow, this species is a complex botanical marvel with at least 11 subspecies that vary wildly in leaf shape and texture. It is a slow-growing but incredibly resilient survivor, producing termite-resistant wood and serving as a natural firebreak due to its ability to withstand intense savannah grass fires. Beyond its hardiness, the tree is deeply integrated into local industry. For example, in Uganda its wood is specifically utilised in the traditional process of beer fermentation.

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