Combretum obovatum F. Hoffm.

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Combretum obovatum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba

Combretum obovatum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba

Combretum obovatum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ruia River crossing, Kariba

Combretum obovatum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp

Combretum obovatum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Combretum lasiocarpum sensu Exell & Garcia
Common names: Mtombololo (Tonga: Zimbabwe) Spiny white-leaved bushwillow (English)
Frequency: Locally common
Status: Native
Description:
Usually a semi-evergreen scrambling shrub with long trailing branches. Branches often armed with blunt spines, formed by the hardened remains of old petioles. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled, obovate to obovate-oblong, usually up to 7 cm long, dull green and hairless above, much paler and densely velvety below; margin entire. Showy bract-like silvery-white leaves subtend the inflorescences. Flowers in dense spherical axillary heads, dark brown with long white stamens, subtended by the white leaves. Fruit usually 5-winged, 3-3.5 cm long, hairy with very corrugated wings, pale straw-coloured when dry.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: obovatum: with obovate leaves
Habitat: Often forming thickets in riverine scrub and along the base of escarpments.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Nov - Jan
Worldwide distribution: Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution: N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Monday 31 May 2010
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 681. (Includes a picture).

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 808.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 263.

Exell, A.W. (1978). Combretaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 147 - 148.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 35.


Other sources of information about Combretum obovatum:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Combretum obovatum
Flora of Zambia: Combretum obovatum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Combretum obovatum
African Plant Database: Combretum obovatum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Combretum obovatum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Combretum obovatum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Combretum obovatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Combretum obovatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Combretum obovatum
JSTOR Plant Science: Combretum obovatum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Combretum obovatum
Plants of the World Online: Combretum obovatum
Tropicos: Combretum obovatum
Wikipedia: Combretum obovatum


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Combretum obovatum.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=141990, retrieved 29 March 2024

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