Combretum hereroense old fruits and new growth

Combretum hereroense, the russet bushwillow or kierieklapper (Afrikaans) is a small tree of the northern bushveld and savannah areas of South Africa and countries to the north up to Central and West Africa.

The leaves are elliptic or obovate, opposite or sub-opposite, hairy on the lower surface with indented net-veining on the upper one.

The sweet-scented flowers are cream, light yellow in dense spikes occurring with the new seasons leaves.

The typical Combretum four-winged fruits, dark in the centre and reddish brown on the wings give the tree a coppery appearance (Coates Palgrave, 2002).