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

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References and further reading

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

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

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

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

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

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 391

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

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Year Published: 2004? - Page: 174

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

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

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