Forest bushwillow | |
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C. kraussii winter foliage | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Combretaceae |
Genus: | Combretum |
Species: | C. kraussii
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Binomial name | |
Combretum kraussii |
Combretum kraussii, the forest bushwillow, is a medium-sized to large tree [1] of eastern South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique, which is found within, or in the vicinity of forests. [2] The specific name commemorates Dr. F. Krauss who undertook a collecting trip to South Africa from 1838 to 1840. [1]
The trees are semi-deciduous, as spring leaves only partially replace old foliage. These forest trees become conspicuous in late spring, when the fresh leaves turn to a pale, almost white colour, before returning to green by mid-summer. [3] In winter the foliage turns partially red or purple, which is shed just before flowering starts. [4] The fresh clusters of four-winged fruit are a colourful red or yellowy red colour, before they dry to mid-brown. [3]
Combretastatin B-1, a type of stilbenoid, can be found in C. kraussii. [5]
It is closely related to Combretum nelsonii [2] [4] which occurs in rockier habitats, and bears a resemblance to the larger leaved Combretum woodii, which is similarly distributed, but in bushveld. [2]
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