Bastard Yellow Wood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bastard Yellow Wood
• Damara-Mother Tree
• Elephant Trunk
• Elephant's Trunk
• Ivory Tree
• Leadwood Bushwillow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Combretum imberbe var. petersii
• Combretum imberbe var. truncatum
• Combretum imberbe var. dielsii
• Combretum petersii
• Combretum primigenum
• Argyrodendron petersii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by its genus, Combretum imbérbe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Tanzania. Its presence extends significantly into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Angola. The species is also widely distributed throughout Malawi and Mozambique. Finally, its range continues through the southern reaches of the continent in Zambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Combretum imbérbe is characterized by its broad adaptability to varying topographical gradients, allowing it to occupy diverse landscapes across its native range. This species thrives within a significant altitudinal spectrum, establishing itself in habitats ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 185 m AMSL to more elevated terrains reaching up to 1650 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the plant to colonize different microclimates and vegetation zones, from lowland savannas to more montane woodland environments.

Elevational range max:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

185 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Combretum imbérbe is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain its presence within its ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. As a perennial woody plant, it exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, typically in response to environmental cues such as the onset of a dry season. This cyclical shedding of leaves is a strategic survival mechanism that helps the plant conserve moisture and manage resources during periods of water scarcity.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Combretum imbérbe is characterized by a robust growth form, primarily manifesting as a woody tree. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a terrestrial habitat. The plant is self-supporting rather than behaving as a liana or a climbing vine. In terms of stature, it reaches significant dimensions, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 7 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Combretum imbérbe is characterized by a specific metabolic framework and nutrient acquisition strategy. It utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many woody species where carbon dioxide fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. Furthermore, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds available within the soil matrix.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Combretum imbérbe is characterized by the production of seeds with specific morphological and physical dimensions. These seeds exhibit a consistent volume, measured at exactly 69 mm³ across the recorded range, indicating a lack of variance in seed size. However, the mass of the seeds shows a degree of variability, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.03844 g to a maximum of 0.09918 g. This fluctuation in weight results in an average seed mass of 0.06611 g, reflecting the specific energetic investment the plant makes during its reproductive cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.09918 g

Seed mass mean:

0.06611 g

Seed mass min:

0.03844 g

Seed volume max:

69 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Combretum imberbe has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Combretum imberbe has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Combretum imberbe has 19 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Combretum imberbe has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bacterial infections.

Bacterial infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Combretum imberbe has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol and distilled water extracts, methanol extracts.

Methanol and distilled water extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology