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| Here is what it's leafs looks like up close: |
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| This is what it's fruits looks like: |
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Combretum Erythrophyllum
| Latin Name: |
Combretum Erythrophyllum |
| English Name: |
River Bushwillow |
| Afrikaans Name: |
Rivier Wilger |
One of the winged wonders belonging to the bushwillow family, this medium-sized tree is a fast grower, producing creamy flowers and beautiful 4-winged seeds of a greenish brown colour when young and drying to a honey-brown.
Description
This is a medium to large deciduous tree with reddish autumn colours. Flowers are cream to pale yellow (September - November). Fruit are small, 4-winged and a greenish brown colour, ripening to yellowish brown and drying to a honey-brown. They remain on the tree for a long time and are reputed to be poisonous, causing hiccups. The bark is a pale brown, smooth, but flaking with age to expose grey patches, which give it a mottled appearance. Knob-like outgrowths commonly occur in older trees, giving them an old, gnarled look. The young leaves are yellowish and shiny maturing to a fresh mid-green. Trees are often multi-stemmed and somewhat willow-like in habit.
Uses and cultural aspects
The gum has interesting properties. It is non-toxic, elastic, producing a non-cracking varnish. The roots, which some regard as poisonous, are used as a purgative and to treat venereal diseases. Ornaments, cattle troughs and grain mortars are made from the wood. A dark, rich brown dye is extracted from the roots. The dried fruits also work well in flower arrangements.
Growing Combretum erythrophyllum
This is a popular shade tree, surprisingly drought and frost resistant and fast growing under good conditions, reaching 4-6 m in three years. It has the attraction of being one of the more responsive and adaptable bushwillow species, even surviving in the Karoo gardens where its autumn colours are even more brilliant than in milder climates.
This species sets lots of seed and seedlings are often to be found under the trees. It grows easily from fresh, unparasitized seed which should be soaked for some hours before planting. Seedlings appear 7-13 days after planting. The seedlings are frost resistant after two years.
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