Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Africa |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a shrub with multi-stems and sometimes medium-sized tree, which has low branching. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Bark smooth and flaking, pale grey. |
| Foliage | Foliage sub-opposite, whorled or alternate, elliptical in shape, measuring up to 10 cm long and 4 cm wide; yellowish-green on both surfaces when young, turns to medium green and glabrescent on upper surface while yellowish-green and tomentose on below when older; margin entire. |
| Flowers | Flowers shaped like puff-balls, measuring 1 cm in diameter, cream to pale yellow. |
| Fruit | Fruits 4-winged, light green to brown, measuring 1 - 1.5 cm long. |
| Habitat | Occurs along river banks. |
| Etymology | The genus name Combretum is a name used by Pliny for an undetermined climbing plant, which applies to Combretaceae family. The specific epithet erythrophyllum means red leaf in Greek. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: It is believed that the fruits are used as a de-worming remedy however seeds are poisonous and can cause severe hiccups. Timber & Products: Wood is suitable for carpentry due to its toughness. Others: The dried fruits are used in floral arrangement. The roots produce a dark brown dye. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate, Opposite, Whorled |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Medium green above, yellowish green below. |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks | Yellowish-green. |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Seed Description | Seeds are inside 4-winged fruits, green when young and honey-brown when dries. |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 542 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1838 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
