An excellent place to start looking for such answers as "What is
<i>Combretum fruticosum</i>? is to try the Families and Genera database
edited by John Wiersema of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at:
http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/tax/taxfam.html
In this specific case you will find a complete summary, including synonymy
and literature references.
Jim Reveal (MARY)