Combretum mechowianum O. Hoffm.

Combretum collinum is a small to medium-sized, semi-deciduous tree 4-18 m in height, with a rounded or flat, heavy crown. Young shoots are densely covered with short, soft hairs. Bark light grey, creamy-brown, reddish-brown or brown-black, fissured, transversely cracked, with smooth scales of various sizes. Leaves opposite to alternate, simple, narrowly elliptic to broadly ovate or obovate, up to 19 x 8 cm but usually about half this size, dark green above, paler green to silvery below, with or without dense woolly hairs; apex broadly tapering to attenuate; base broadly tapering; margin entire; petiole usually up to 3 cm long. Flowers cream to yellow, up to 5 mm in diameter, sweetly scented, in axillary spikes usually about 5-6 cm long but which may reach 10 cm, conspicuous when the tree is in full flower. Fruit 4-winged, 3-5.5 x 2.5-4.5 cm, rusty red when young, becoming dark chocolate brown or deep golden brown when mature, with a marked metallic sheen caused by scales; varies in shape but generally globose; old fruits may be found on the tree for most of the year. Combretum was the name given by Pliny to a climbing plant, the identity of which has been lost in time. The specific name is the Latin word collinus meaning growing on a hill.

In southern Africa, flowers are often produced with the previous season’s leaves in August to October, and fruiting occurs from January to August.

C. collinum occurs at medium to low altitudes in open woodlands. It is found throughout Zambia and is locally a common tree of Baikiaea Forest margins, deciduous thickets, and Kalahari and Lake Basin chipya woodland. It is occasional on anthills, in miombo woodlands, and in the dry, evergreen forests. Outside Zambia, it is widespread, extending from Senegal to East Africa and south to Natal and westwards to Angola. Trees are often dominant where they occur.

Fruits should be opened to get the seeds; soaking in cold water facilitates the process. Wildings and seedlings are used to regenerate trees; fresh seeds should be sown in pots.

The slow-growing trees respond well to coppicing, lopping and pollarding.

Fruits can be stored for only a short period. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox, and seeds can be stored for up to 3 years.

Shade or shelter: Since the living tree is tolerant of grass fires, C. collinum is suitable for planting as a savannah firebreak. Boundary or barrier or support: Branches can be cut and used to construct fences.

Apiculture: Flowers produce good nectar for honey. Fuel: C. collinum is a source of firewood and makes very good charcoal. Timber: The tree has whitish-brown sapwood, which is not clearly differentiated from the light brown heartwood. It is fairly hard, not very durable, has an interlocked grain and a course texture. It is used for wagon building, canoes and tool handles. Medicine: Roots are boiled and the decoction drunk warm as treatment for dysentery and snakebite.