Combretum kraussii, the forest bushwillow, is a medium-sized to large tree[3] in the family Combretaceae.[2][4] It is found in eastern South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique, in the vicinity of forests.[5] The specific name commemorates Dr. F. Krauss who undertook a collecting trip to South Africa from 1838 to 1840.[3]
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.[6] In winter the foliage turns partially red or purple, which is shed just before flowering starts.[7] The fresh clusters of four-winged fruit are a colourful red or yellowy red colour, before they dry to mid-brown.[6]
It is closely related to Combretum nelsonii[5][7] which occurs in rockier habitats, and bears a resemblance to the larger leaved Combretum woodii, which is similarly distributed, but in bushveld.[5]
^ abcVan Wyk, Braam, Piet (1997). Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 332. ISBN1-86825-922-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abPalgrave, K.C. (1984). Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 670. ISBN0-86977-081-0.
^ abPooley, Elsa (1997). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei. Durban: Natal Flora Publications Trust. p. 358. ISBN0-620-17697-0.
^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 (abstract)
