Combretum albidum

Combretum albidum is a large woody deciduous liana that grows vigorously by winding itself against another plant. 
It can grow up to 10 m long. 
It can be a nuisance to its host as it can blanket the full canopy.

The bark of Combretum albidum is smooth and grey in colour. 
The branchlets are glabrous. 

The leaves of Combretum albidum are simple in an opposite arrangement. 
The leaves are oblong or ovate-lanceolate in shape. 
The leaves are about 5 to 8 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. 
They are thinly coriaceous. 
They are green in colour, paler on the lower side, and turn red before falling. 
The base of the leaf is cuneate-subcuneate, the leaf margin is entire and the leaf apex is acuminate. 
The petiole can be up to 1.5 cm long.  

The flowers of Combretum albidum are bisexual. 
They grow as panicled spikes at the end of the branches. 
The flowers are small, less than 1 cm, and tightly arranged on a peduncle which is 2 cm long. 
They are cream and green in colour with a pleasant smell. 
The flowers have 4 very small petals. 

The fruits of Combretum albidum are ovoid in shape, with 4 membranous semi-circular wings. 
They are about 2 cm across. 
The fruits are green in colour, sometimes tinged with red, and turn brown when they dry.
Each fruit has a single seed at the centre of its wings. 
The fruits are prominent over the canopy.

The seed of Combretum albidum is found at the centre of the 4 membranous wings. 
It is solitary, about 1 cm long, narrow in shape. 
It is light to dark brown in colour.  

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