Mosinabele
Searsia lancea
Karee, Syn. Rhus Lancea, Umhlakotshane
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Searsia lancea is an evergreen small to medium sized wide-spreading tree that is widely distributed in Southern Africa. Drought and frost tolerant. Has a course textured bark and leaves are trifoliate, up to 12cm long and taper into a prominent tip. The small round fruit attracts animals when ripe. Often used as shade tree in arid areas.
ZA Distribution: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
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Planning
Difficulty
Easy
Flowering time
Winter, Spring
Fruiting time
Summer, Spring
Harvesting
Fruit ripes from Spring to early Summer.
Propagation
Seed
The ripe seed should be sown in seedling trays using a good seedling medium and transplanted into bigger containers when the seedlings reach the two-leaf stage.
Cuttings
Cuttings can be taken using young growth in spring time.
Special features
Attracts birds
Fruit is eaten by birds such as bulbuls, guineafowl and francolins.
Attracts useful insects
The sweetly scented flowers attract bees and other insects to them.
Wind break
Hedge plant
Attracts bees
Special features
Origin
Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa
Natural climate
Bushveld (semi-arid)
Environment
Light
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Partial Sun
Soil moisture
Dry
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil PH preference
Neutral
Frost hardiness
Tender
Uses
Edible
Flowers
Notes
Shade tree for arid areas
Personality
Family
Anacardiaceae
Flower colour
Green, Yellow
Scent
Mild
Problems
Generally problem free
Credits
Searsia lancea
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by Marc Stern, Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, June 2002. Updated July 2008 (Copyright South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa)
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