Searsia glauca
Searsia glauca (or the blue kuni-rhus) is a small, compact tree or bush that is commonly found along the coastline of southern Africa. Although commonest near the coast, it is also found inland among fynbos vegetation.
| Searsia glauca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Detail of Searsia glauca foliage | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus: | Searsia |
| Species: | S. glauca |
| Binomial name | |
| Searsia glauca (Thunb.) Moffett | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Rhus glauca Thunb. | |
Description
The leaves are characteristically glossy/shiny and often a slightly glaucous (blue-green) colour. The leaves are trifoliate, with three obtuse (obcordate-cuneate) leaflets.
It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[1] The fruits reach a maximum diameter of 5 mm (distinguishing it from Searsia undulata which has 3mm fruits).[2]
Distribution
This species occurs along the coast of South Africa, as well as in certain areas inland. It occurs from Velddrif and Cape Town in the west, eastwards into the Eastern Cape Province.
Inland it occurs in the Little Karoo, around Worcester, Oudtshoorn, Baviaanskloof and northwards into Zimbabwe.[1]
References
- "Searsia glauca | PlantZAfrica".
- Coates Palgrave, M. (2002) Trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
Media related to Searsia glauca at Wikimedia Commons