Velvet bushwillow

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Combretum gueinzii var. holosericeum
• Combretum splendens var. nyikae
• Combretum velutinum var. glabrum
• Combretum petitianum
• Combretum minimipetalum
• Terminalia hirta
• Combretum obtusatum
• Combretum nyikae
• Combretum microlepidotum
• Combretum holtzii
• Combretum hobol
• Combretum holosericeum
• Combretum insculptum
• Combretum galpinii
• Combretum gueinzii
• Combretum gondense
• Combretum ellipticum
• Combretum deserti
• Combretum dekindtiana
• Combretum ankolense
• Combretum arbuscula
• Combretum arengense
• Combretum atelanthum
• Combretum boehmii
• Combretum bricchettii
• Combretum quartinianum
• Combretum richardianum
• Combretum rueppellianum
• Combretum schelei
• Combretum schimperianum
• Combretum sokodense
• Combretum somalense
• Combretum splendens
• Combretum trichanthum
• Combretum ulugurense
• Combretum sublancifolium
• Combretum tenuispiscatum
• Combretum welwitschii
• Poivrea coccinea var. velutina
• Combretum gueinzii subsp. splendens
• Combretum trichanthum var. angustifolium
• Combretum trichanthum var. petitianum

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Myrtales, falling into the family Combretaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Combretum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several nations located within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Burkina. Its natural range also extends into the coastal and inland regions of Ghana. Furthermore, the species is documented to exist within the borders of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical presence is confirmed in the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Combretum molle is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes. It thrives within a significant elevational range, establishing itself in habitats starting from as low as 30 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum altitude of 1700 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal tolerance allows the species to occupy diverse ecological niches, ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher-altitude montane zones, where it adapts to varying temperature gradients and moisture availability.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Combretum molle is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its stem buds well above the ground, a structural adaptation that contributes to its robust growth habit. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage periodically, typically in response to seasonal changes or moisture availability. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, phanerophyte life form, and deciduous phenology allows the plant to navigate environmental fluctuations effectively throughout its existence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Combretum molle is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, exhibiting a self-supporting structure that does not require climbing support. This species functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, and it thrives in terrestrial environments. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of approximately 15.24 meters, maintaining an average height of around 8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Combretum molle is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle, which is typical for most woody species in its genus. In terms of its relationship with soil nutrients, Combretum molle is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium present in the soil to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Combretum molle is driven by a complex interplay of biotic interactions and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The pollination process is classified as biotic, primarily relying on insects to facilitate fertilization, with bees serving as a significant pollinator group. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a notable range in size; the seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.03337 g to a maximum of 0.14192 g, with an average mass of approximately 0.089592 g. Following maturation, the dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind to colonize new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.14192 g

Seed mass mean:

0.089592 g

Seed mass min:

0.03337 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Combretum molle has 3 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, seed.

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Parasitology research
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Stem

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Parasitology research
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Seed

1. BMC research notes

Chemicals

Combretum molle has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, polyphenols, 4-epi-sericoside, Alcohols, Alkanes.

Tannins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

polyphenols

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

4-epi-sericoside

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Alcohols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Alkanes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumarins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Ellagitannin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Phytosterols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Combretum molle has 3 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.

Antibacterial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiplasmodial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Combretum molle has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Helicobacter pylori, cancer, fever, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations