Combretum kraussii

{{Speciesbox

|name = Forest bushwillow

|image = Combretum kraussii, winterlower, Louwsburg.jpg

|image_caption = C. kraussii winter foliage

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author= Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |date=2021 |title= Combretum kraussii |volume=2021 |page= e.T146456269A208438144 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T146456269A208438144.en |access-date=December 13, 2024}}

|genus = Combretum

|species = kraussii

|authority = Hochst.

|synonyms ={{species list |Combretum nelsonii|Dümmer

|Combretum woodii|Dümmer}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Combretum kraussii, the forest bushwillow, is a medium-sized to large tree{{cite web | last = Le Roux | first = Lou-Nita | title = Combretum kraussii | url= http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/combretkraus.htm | accessdate = 14 October 2011|display-authors=etal}} in the family Combretaceae.{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:170191-1 |title= Combretum kraussii Hochst. |author= |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=December 13, 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/5ZRDB |title= Combretum kraussii Hochst. |author= |date=n.d. |website=Catalogue of Life |publisher=Species 2000 |access-date=December 13, 2024}} It is found in eastern South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique, in the vicinity of forests.{{cite book | last = Van Wyk | first = Braam, Piet | title = Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa | publisher = Struik | location = Cape Town | year = 1997 | page = 332 | isbn = 1-86825-922-6}} The specific name commemorates Dr. F. Krauss who undertook a collecting trip to South Africa from 1838 to 1840.

Description

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.{{cite book | last = Palgrave | first = K.C. | title = Trees of Southern Africa | publisher = Struik | location = Cape Town | year = 1984 | page = 670 | isbn = 0-86977-081-0}} In winter the foliage turns partially red or purple, which is shed just before flowering starts.{{cite book | last = Pooley | first = Elsa | title = The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei | publisher = Natal Flora Publications Trust | location = Durban | year = 1997 | page = 358 | isbn = 0-620-17697-0}} The fresh clusters of four-winged fruit are a colourful red or yellowy red colour, before they dry to mid-brown.

Biochemical

Combretastatin B-1, a type of stilbenoid, can be found in C. kraussii.Uteroactive constituents from Combretum kraussii. Bridget K Brookes, Olga V Doudoukina, Lynn C Katsoulis and Joy H D Veale, South African Journal of Chemistry, Dec 99, Vol. 52, Issue 4, page 127 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140808063208/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2910831/uteroactive-constituents-from-combretum-kraussii abstract])

Relationships

It is closely related to Combretum nelsonii which occurs in rockier habitats, and bears a resemblance to the larger leaved Combretum woodii, which is similarly distributed, but in bushveld.

Gallery

Combretum kraussii, habitus, a, Louwsburg.jpg|{{center|mature tree}}

Combretum kraussii, habitus, Krantzkloof NR.jpg|{{center|red winter foliage}}

Combretum kraussii, samara, Wingatepark-buiteklub, a.jpg|{{center|fruit}}

Combretum kraussii, vrugte, Louwsburg.jpg|{{center|dry fruit in winter}}

References

kraussii

Category:Flora of Southern Africa

Category:Taxa named by Christian Ferdinand Friedrich Hochstetter