There has been considerable uncertainty amongst botanists as to the best way of treating the genus Searsia, with some viewing it as a genus distinct from Rhus, whilst others see insufficient differences and place it as a subgenus of Rhus. There seems to be a growing acceptance that Searsia is distinct and it is treated thus here.

Common Name:

General Information

Searsia lancea is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense crown of somewhat pendulous branches; it can grow 6 - 12 metres tall. The tree usually branches from very low down the bole[, , , ].
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use. The plant is cultivated as a hedge in S. Africa[]. An excellent shade-providing tree, it is good for planting along the sides of roads, being able to tolerate to poor soil conditions[].

Known Hazards

The pollen is said to be allergenic[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Africa - Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and S. Africa.

Habitat

Savannahs, open woodlands and riverine forests at elevations from 100 - 2,300 metres[]. An understorey tree in Acacia woodland and along drainage lines, rivers and streams. It is often found growing on lime rich substrates[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Searsia lancea is not very cold-tolerant, but is able to tolerate occasional temperatures falling to around -5 to -10°c when dormant so long as the branches have been fully ripened by a hot summer[, ].
Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in poorly drained soils[]. Established plants are drought resistant[].
Rhus lancea is often cultivated as an ornamental in the southwestern United States, where it is not only well established (and generally valued) as a landscape tree, but has become naturalised, and could pose a threat to natural ecosystems, especially desert washes[].
The tree can grow up to 80cm a year and is thus fairly fast growing[].
The dark reddish brown bark has a sweet, spicy scent[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. The fruit has been fermented to make a beer[]. The fruit is a small round, glossy tan drupe, 4 - 6mm in diameter, in a hanging many branched cluster[].

Medicinal

The roots, leaves and stem bark are used to treat skin diseases[].

A root infusion is taken to treat abdominal and chest complaints and diarrhoea[]. The roots are chewed as a treatment against stomach-ache[].

A leaf decoction or infusion is taken to treat measles and pustules[].
The vapours from leaves in a bath of hot water are inhaled to cure cough[].

Bark extracts have shown in-vitro antibacterial activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria[].
The leaves yield 0.2% of an essential oil, with α-pinene, benzene and δ-3-carene as main constituents. The oil showed remarkable anti-oxidant activity and dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal activities. These activities may be associated with the high concentration of α-pinene in the oil (87%).[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Rhus lancea is suitable for use as a large hedge along the boundaries of properties such as farms because of its dense growth habit[, ]. The density of the plant makes it suitable for use as a screen or barrier against wind, noise or objectionable views, as well as to provide privacy[].
Searsia lancea is useful in providing natural soil stabilisation and increasing infiltration of rainwater into the soil thus reducing erosion and raising the ground water table[].
The tree does not have an aggressive root system and can be used near paving and tarred surfaces[].
Because the karee is hardy, frost resistant and evergreen, it is ideal for establishing a protective canopy for frost sensitive and shade loving plants. It could thus be considered as a possible pioneer plant for establishing a new forest in an area that receives frost[].
The plant is considered to be an indicator of underground water[].

Other Uses

The bark, twigs and leaves are sources of tannin[].

A brown dye is obtained from the bark[].

The reddish-brown wood is fine textured, heavy, hard, tough and durable[]. It has a sweetish and spicy smell, works well and takes a nice polish. It is used for fence posts, tool handles and parts of wagons[, ]. Bowls, tobacco pipes and bows were also made from the wood[].

Propagation

Seed - the ripe seed should be sown in trays using a good seedling medium and transplanted into bigger containers when the seedlings reach the two leaf stage[].
Cuttings can be taken using young growth
Layering.