''Combretum'', the bushwillows or combretums, make up the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal ...

of the family

Combretaceae The Combretaceae, often called the white mangrove family, are a family of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. The family includes about 530 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas in ca 10 genera. The family includes the leadwood tree, ''Combret ...

. The

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

comprises about 272

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s and shrubs, most of which are native to

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and southern

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, about 5 to

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

, but there are others that are native to tropical

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

and the Bismarck Archipelago, Australia, and tropical America. Though somewhat reminiscent of

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

s (''Salix'') in their habitus, they are not particularly close relatives of these.

Ecology

Bushwillow trees often are important plants in their

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

. Savannahs in Africa, in particular those growing on

granitic A granitoid is a generic term for a diverse category of coarse-grained igneous rocks that consist predominantly of quartz, plagioclase, and alkali feldspar. Granitoids range from plagioclase-rich tonalites to alkali-rich syenites and from quartz- ...

soils, are often dominated by ''Combretum'' and its close relative ''

Terminalia Terminalia may refer to: * Terminalia (festival), a Roman festival to the god of boundaries Terminus * ''Terminalia'' (plant), a tree genus * Terminalia (insect anatomy), the terminal region of the abdomen in insects * ''Polyscias terminalia'', a ...

''. For example, ''C. apiculatum'' is a notable tree in the

Angolan mopane woodlands Angolan mopane woodlands are situated in southwestern Angola, extending into northern Namibia. This ecosystem surrounds Etosha Pan, which is considered a separate ecoregion. The mopane trees are the main type of vegetation. Location and descript ...

ecoregion in the Kunene River basin in southern Africa. Other species of this genus are a major component of

Southwestern Amazonian moist forests The Southwest Amazon moist forests (NT0166) is an ecoregion located in the Upper Amazon basin. The forest is characterized by a relatively flat landscape with alluvial plains dissected by undulating hills or high terraces. The biota of the sout ...

. This genus contains several species that are

pollinated Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...

by mammals other than

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...

s, which is quite rare indeed. But most species are more conventionally pollinated by

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three ...

s or

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s. '' Typhlodromus combretum'', a

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear e ...

of the family

Phytoseiidae The Phytoseiidae are a family (biology), family of mites which feed on thrips and other mite species. They are often used as a biological control agent for managing mite pests. Because of their usefulness as biological control agents, interest in ...

, was discovered on a bushwillow plant and is named after this genus. Other herbivores that eat ''Combretum'' foliage include the caterpillars of the Brown Awl (''Badamia exclamationis'') which is found on '' C. albidum, C. latifolium'' and '' C. ovalifolium''; those of the Orange-tailed Awl (''Bibasis sena'') are recorded from '' C. extensum'' and ''C. latifolium''.

Use by humans

Several species are used in African or

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

herbal medicine. The class of chemical compounds known as

combretastatin Combretastatin is a dihydrostilbenoid found in ''Combretum caffrum''. As a class Combretastatins are a class of natural phenols. A variety of different natural combretastatin molecules are present in the bark of ''Combretum caffrum'', commonly k ...

s were first isolated from

South African Bushwillow ''Combretum caffrum'' is the Eastern Cape South African bushwillow tree. Biochemistry In ''C. caffrum'', combretastatins A-1, A-4 and B-1 can be found.derivative In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. ...

, fosbretabulin disodium (combretastatin A4 phosphate), underwent preliminary study for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer, but it was not effective enough to progress to more advanced trials. ''Combretum molle, C. molle'' is also recorded to contain antioxidants such as punicalagin, which is also found in pomegranates (''Punica granatum''), a somewhat related plant. The botanist George Don studied this genus extensively. The Luvuvhu River in southern Africa was named after the river's bushwillows (''Combretum erythrophyllum, C. erythrophyllum''), locally known as ''muvuvhu''.

Species

As of April 2021, there are 272 accepted species of ''Combretum'': *''Combretum aculeatum'' *''Combretum acuminatum'' *''Combretum acutifolium'' *''Combretum acutum'' *''Combretum adenogonium'' *''Combretum adrianii'' *''Combretum afzelii'' *''Combretum alatum'' *''Combretum albiflorum'' *''Combretum albopunctatum'' *''Combretum alfredi'' *''Combretum andongense'' *''Combretum andradae'' *''Combretum angolense'' *''Combretum angustipetalum'' *''Combretum annulatum'' *''Combretum apetalum'' *''Combretum aphanopetalum'' *''Combretum apiculatum'' *''Combretum argenteum'' *''Combretum argyrotrichum'' *''Combretum assimile'' *''Combretum atropurpureum'' *''Combretum aureonitens'' *''Combretum auriculatum'' *''Combretum barbatum'' *''Combretum batesii'' *''Combretum bauchiense'' *''Combretum baumii'' *''Combretum bipindense'' *''Combretum blepharopetalum'' *''Combretum boinensis'' *''Combretum bracteatum'' *''Combretum bracteosum'' *''Combretum brassiciforme'' *''Combretum brevistylum'' *''Combretum brunneum'' *''Combretum butyrosum'' *''Combretum cacoucia'' *''Combretum caffrum'' *''Combretum camporum'' *''Combretum capitatum'' *''Combretum capituliflorum'' *''Combretum capuronii'' *''Combretum carringtonianum'' *''Combretum caudatisepalum'' *''Combretum celastroides'' *''Combretum chinense'' *''Combretum chionanthoides'' *''Combretum cinereopetalum'' *''Combretum cinnabarinum'' *''Combretum clarense'' *''Combretum coccineum'' *''Combretum collinum'' *''Combretum comosum'' *''Combretum conchipetalum'' *''Combretum confertum'' *''Combretum × confusum'' *''Combretum congolanum'' *''Combretum constrictum'' *''Combretum contractum'' *''Combretum coriifolium'' *''Combretum coursianum'' *''Combretum cuspidatum'' *''Combretum decandrum'' *''Combretum decaryi'' *''Combretum deciduum'' *''Combretum demeusei'' *''Combretum discolor'' *''Combretum dolichopodum'' *''Combretum duarteanum'' *''Combretum echirense'' *''Combretum edwardsii'' *''Combretum elaeagnoides'' *''Combretum engleri'' *''Combretum eriogynum'' *''Combretum erosum'' *''Combretum erythrophloeum'' *''Combretum erythrophyllum'' *''Combretum esteriense'' *''Combretum evisceratum'' *''Combretum exalatum'' *''Combretum exannulatum'' *''Combretum excelsum'' *''Combretum exellii'' *''Combretum falcatum'' *''Combretum farinosum'' *''Combretum flammeum'' *''Combretum foliatum'' *''Combretum frangulifolium'' *''Combretum fruticosum'' *''Combretum fulvum'' *''Combretum fuscum'' *''Combretum gabonense'' *''Combretum germainii'' *''Combretum ghesquierei'' *''Combretum gillettianum'' *''Combretum glabrum'' *''Combretum glaucocarpum'' *''Combretum glutinosum'' *''Combretum goetzei'' *''Combretum goldieanum'' *''Combretum goossensii'' *''Combretum gordonii'' *''Combretum gossweileri'' *''Combretum gracile'' *''Combretum graciliflorum'' *''Combretum grandidieri'' *''Combretum grandiflorum'' *''Combretum griffithii'' *''Combretum harmsianum'' *''Combretum harrisii'' *''Combretum hartmannianum'' *''Combretum haullevilleanum'' *''Combretum hensii'' *''Combretum hereroense'' *''Combretum hilarianum'' *''Combretum holstii'' *''Combretum homalioides'' *''Combretum igneiflorum'' *''Combretum illairii'' *''Combretum imberbe'' *''Combretum indicum'' *''Combretum inflatum'' *''Combretum ivanii'' *''Combretum kasaiense'' *''Combretum kirkii'' *''Combretum klossii'' *''Combretum klotzschii'' *''Combretum kostermansii'' *''Combretum kraussii'' *''Combretum lanceolatum'' *''Combretum lanuginosum'' *''Combretum latialatum'' *''Combretum latifolium'' *''Combretum laxum'' *''Combretum lecardii'' *''Combretum leprosum'' *''Combretum lindense'' *''Combretum lisowskii'' *''Combretum littoreum'' *''Combretum llewelynii'' *''Combretum lokele'' *''Combretum longicollum'' *''Combretum longipilosum'' *''Combretum longispicatum'' *''Combretum longistipitatum'' *''Combretum louisii'' *''Combretum lukafuensis'' *''Combretum luxenii'' *''Combretum macrocalyx'' *''Combretum malabaricum'' *''Combretum mannii'' *''Combretum marginatum'' *''Combretum marquesii'' *''Combretum mellifluum'' *''Combretum meridionalis'' *''Combretum micranthum'' *''Combretum microphyllum'' *''Combretum mkuzense'' *''Combretum moggii'' *''Combretum molle'' *''Combretum monetaria'' *''Combretum mooreanum'' *''Combretum mortehanii'' *''Combretum mossambicense'' *''Combretum mucronatum'' *''Combretum multinervium'' *''Combretum mussaendiflorum'' *''Combretum mweroense'' *''Combretum nanum'' *''Combretum ndjoleense'' *''Combretum nigrescens'' *''Combretum nigricans'' *''Combretum nioroense'' *''Combretum niphophilum'' *''Combretum nusbaumeri'' *''Combretum oatesii'' *''Combretum obovatum'' *''Combretum obscurum'' *''Combretum octagonum'' *''Combretum olivaceum'' *''Combretum oudenhovenii'' *''Combretum ovalifolium'' *''Combretum oxygonium'' *''Combretum oxystachyum'' *''Combretum oyemense'' *''Combretum padoides'' *''Combretum paniculatum'' *''Combretum paradoxum'' *''Combretum paraguariense'' *''Combretum patelliforme'' *''Combretum paucinervium'' *''Combretum pavonii'' *''Combretum pecoense'' *''Combretum pellegrinianum'' *''Combretum pentagonum'' *''Combretum petrophilum'' *''Combretum phaeocarpum'' *''Combretum pilosum'' *''Combretum pisoniiflorum'' *''Combretum pisonioides'' *''Combretum platypterum'' *''Combretum polyanthum'' *''Combretum polystictum'' *''Combretum procursum'' *''Combretum psidioides'' *''Combretum punctatum'' *''Combretum purpureiflorum'' *''Combretum pyramidatum'' *''Combretum pyrifolium'' *''Combretum quadrangulare'' *''Combretum quadratum'' *''Combretum rabiense'' *''Combretum racemosum'' *''Combretum razianum'' *''Combretum recurvatum'' *''Combretum relictum'' *''Combretum rhodanthum'' *''Combretum riggenbachianum'' *''Combretum robustum'' *''Combretum robynsii'' *''Combretum rochetianum'' *''Combretum rohrii'' *''Combretum rotundifolium'' *''Combretum rovirosae'' *''Combretum roxburghii'' *''Combretum rupestre'' *''Combretum rupicola'' *''Combretum sanjappae'' *''Combretum scandens'' *''Combretum schumannii'' *''Combretum sericeum'' *''Combretum shivannae'' *''Combretum sordidum'' *''Combretum sphaeroides'' *''Combretum spinosum'' *''Combretum stenopterum'' *''Combretum stocksii'' *''Combretum struempellianum'' *''Combretum stylesii'' *''Combretum subglabratum'' *''Combretum subumbellatum'' *''Combretum sundaicum'' *''Combretum sylvicola'' *''Combretum tarquense'' *''Combretum tenuipetiolatum'' *''Combretum tessmannii'' *''Combretum tetragonocarpum'' *''Combretum tetralophoides'' *''Combretum tetralophum'' *''Combretum teuschii'' *''Combretum tibatiense'' *''Combretum tomentosum'' *''Combretum towaense'' *''Combretum trichophyllum'' *''Combretum trifoliatum'' *''Combretum ulei'' *''Combretum umbricola'' *''Combretum vendae'' *''Combretum vernicosum'' *''Combretum villosum'' *''Combretum violaceum'' *''Combretum virgatum'' *''Combretum viscosum'' *''Combretum wallichii'' *''Combretum wattii'' *''Combretum wilksii'' *''Combretum winitii'' *''Combretum xanthothyrsum'' *''Combretum youngii'' *''Combretum zenkeri'' *''Combretum zeyheri''

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1777188 Combretum, Medicinal plants Myrtales genera