Large-fruited bushwillow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Large-Fruited Combretum
• Largefruit Bushwillow
• Zeyher's Bushwillow
• Zeyher’s bushwillow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Combretum teuszii
• Combretum tinctorum
• Combretum sinuatipetalum
• Combretum sankisiense
• Combretum calocarpum
• Combretum bragae
• Combretum antunesii
• Combretum dilembense
• Combretum platycarpum
• Combretum odontopetalum
• Combretum oblongum
• Combretum megalocarpum
• Combretum lopolense
• Combretum zeyheri var. seineri

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its specific genus, Combretum, and its species name, zehyeri.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends into East Tropical Africa, specifically within the territories of Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, the species is also located in South Tropical Africa. This southern distribution encompasses the countries of both Angola and Malawi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Combretum zehyeri is characterized by its presence within forest habitats, where it plays a role in the local ecosystem. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving in diverse topographical settings that span a significant vertical gradient. Its elevational range extends from a minimum of 45 m AMSL to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches across different mountain and lowland profiles.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

45 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Combretum zeyheri is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. As a deciduous species, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage, typically in response to environmental changes or dry periods, before regenerating new growth. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a deciduous growth habit enables the plant to adapt to its ecological niche by managing resource consumption and surviving seasonal fluctuations.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Combretum zehleri is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which is capable of reaching significant dimensions. It is a self-supporting plant, rather than a climber or liana, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a height range from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 12 m, with an average plant height of approximately 7 m. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it grows on land rather than in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, and it is not an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Combretum zehleri is characterized by metabolic processes adapted to the semi-arid and seasonal environments in which it typically thrives, focusing on efficient water management and nutrient uptake. Regarding its interaction with soil chemistry, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the decomposition of organic matter and the assimilation of nitrates or ammonium present in the soil. Its physiological mechanisms prioritize survival during periods of drought, often employing sclerophyllous leaf characteristics or controlled stomatal conductance to minimize transpiration. The plant's metabolic pathways are optimized for resource acquisition in nutrient-variable soils, utilizing an extensive root system to scavenge for essential minerals and moisture, while its photosynthetic efficiency is tuned to withstand high light intensities and temperature fluctuations characteristic of its natural habitat.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Combretum zeyheri involves the production of seeds characterized by a specific mass range that plays a crucial role in its dispersal and establishment. Based on empirical data, the seed mass of this species exhibits a mean value of approximately 0.964026667 g. The variation within the seed population is relatively narrow, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.92 g to a maximum of 1 g. This consistency in seed weight suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy aimed at maintaining a specific nutrient reserve within each seed to support early seedling development.

Seed mass max:

1 g

Seed mass mean:

0.964026667 g

Seed mass min:

0.92 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Combretum zeyheri has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins.

Saponins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Combretum zeyheri has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anticancer, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. BioMed research international

Antifungal

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. BioMed research international

Anticancer

1. BioMed research international

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Combretum zeyheri has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, bacterial infections, fever.

Cancer

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acinetobacter baumannii

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Candida albicans

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Bacterial infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Hypertension

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Syphilis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tuberculosis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Wound healing

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Combretum zeyheri has 6 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, aqueous or ethanol extract, ethanol extract, ethanolic extract, leaf ethanol or water extracts.

Aqueous extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous or ethanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ethanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ethanolic extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Leaf ethanol or water extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic (czm)

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences