Searsia batophylla

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Searsia batophylla (Codd) Moffett

Family: Anacardiaceae

Common names: bramble currant (Eng.); braamtaaibos (Afr.)

SA Tree No: 377.3

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Introduction

The bramble currant is a shrub with conspicuously bicoloured (two-coloured), bramble-like leaves which make it easy to identify.

Searsia batophylla

This plant was previously known as Rhus batophylla.

Description

Searsia batophylla is a low-branching shrub up to 2 m high. Leaves are usually trifoliolate (with three leaflets) and usually with a petiole (leaf stalk) which is variable in length within the species and folds upwards along the main vein; the leaflets are greyish-green above and whitish below.

Leaf

The shrub produces tiny masses of flowers at the tip of the branches from November to March. The fruits are dark red drupes (indehiscent, usually one-seeded, fleshy fruit as for example plum), sometimes resembling raisins.

Conservation Status

Status

The bramble currant is listed as Vulnerable. It is endemic to the moister Drakensberg mountain areas in Limpopo Province. Its population decrease is due to mining, overgrazing and human settlements in its natural habitat.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

Searsia batophylla is endemic to Sekhukhuneland, including the Steelpoort and Burgersfort areas, in Limpopo Province.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The old genus name Rhus refers to the reddish young and autumn leaves in some species. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek batos, bramble, and phyllon, leaf, referring to the bramble-like leaves.

Searsia is a large genus of approximately 200 species of trees and shrubs occurring in tropical and subtropical countries. The genus can be confused with Allophylus, another genus with trifoliolate leaves. Allophylus species, however, may have hairy pockets in the axils of the veins on the underside of the leaves and the flowers are in a spike-like inflorescence in the axils of the leaves.

Ecology

The plants are pollinated by small insects.

Uses

Use

The leaves of the bramble currant are browsed by goats and sheep, and the fruits are eaten by birds. The wood is used for firewood in the rural areas, where it grows in masses.

Searsia batophylla

Growing Searsia batophylla

Grow

The plant is easily propagated from fresh seeds sown immediately after harvesting in a mixture of 1 part loam soil, 2 parts compost and 1 part river sand. Keep the growing mixture moist at all time. Hardwood cuttings can be used if taken in winter from June to July and planted in 2 parts washed river sand and 1 part compost.

References

Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of Southern Africa , edn 3. Struik, Cape Town.
Moffett, R.O. 1990. A taxonomic study of Rhus (Anacardiaceae) in South Africa. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Stellenbosch.
Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. 2002 Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park . Jacana, Johannesburg.
Smith, C.A. 1966. Common names of South African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 35

Credits

Khangela Joseph Baloyi
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
July 2013

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Shrub

SA Distribution: Limpopo

Soil type: Sandy, Loam

Flowering season: Early Summer

PH: Acid, Neutral

Flower colour: Green, Cream

Aspect: Full Sun

Gardening skill: Average

Special Features:

Attracts birds

Drought resistant

Useful plant

Searsia batophylla