River Bushwillow

Afrikaans name: Riviervaderlandswilg

River Bushwillow tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Combretum erythrophyllum

The River Bushwillow is, as its name suggests, often found in areas of riverine bush.

They are medium-sized trees that grow to a height of 7 to 12 metres.

The leaves grow in whorls of three and are hairy underneath. In autumn the leaves turn red or yellow. The bark of the River Bushwillow is normally smooth and pale grey in colour.

In spring or the start of summer it gets spikes of sweetle scented yellowish flowers. The fruit has four wings and is yellowish-brown in colour when ripe.

A variety of animals including Elephant, Giraffe and Bushbuck feed off the leaves of the River Bushwillow.

Leaves of the River Bushwillow

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Whats that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 40

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 97

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 802

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 128

The Gardener - 2018/03 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 66

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 203

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 76

Sappi Tree Spotting: Lowveld - Author: Jacana - Published: 1997 - Page: 266

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 120

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 356

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 174

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 162

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 89

Piet van Wyks Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 170

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 238

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 391

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 18

Kruger - Portrait of a National Park - Author: David Paynter with Wilf Nussey - Published: 1986 - Page: 30

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 23

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 292

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 164

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 197

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 170

Everyones Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 82

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 261

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 239

For more info: SANBI

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