Common Name:

General Information

Combretum hereroense is a deciduous shrub, often with arching stems; or, more commonly, a small tree with a dense crown growing 9 - 12 metres tall[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern and eastern Africa - Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Mixed open or savannah woodland at elevations from 50 - 2,700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The fruit is usually about 20mm long and 20mm in diameter, though it can be smaller and is occasionally up to 35mm x 35mm[].

The leaves are dried and used as a substitute for tea[].

The gum is said to be palatable[].

Medicinal

The roots are used as a remedy for chest ailments and are also considered to be an effective treatment for bad colds[]. The leaves are sometimes used for the same purpose[].

Other Uses

The branches are used to make a musical instrument, a string instrument known as a Ilaihn. It is used primarily by traditional healers during healing ceremonies, and sometimes also by hunters[].

Propagation

Seed -
The seed of most, if not all, species can be stored inside the fruit for several years without losing viability[].

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