Combretum imberbe or hardekool

Hardekool (hard coal), leadwood or botanically, Combretum imberbe, grows in South Africa at low to medium altitudes in a broad strip of largely frost-free bushveld and mixed woodland along the Limpopo in North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The tropical African distribution of the species covers a much larger area spreading over several countries.

The tree reaches heights from 7 m to 15 m, often growing near watercourses in variable soils, ranging from alluvial, sandy loam and sandy turf to calcareous, dolomite and even Kalahari sand.

The tree shape varies much according to the veld type in which it occurs. Some dense shrubs contrast against erect, single, bare stem specimens. The crown may be narrow and irregular or broad with heavy, spreading branches arching out into a rounded form (Carr, 1988; Coates Palgrave, 2002).