Fire-thorned rhus, Common taaibos, Firethorn
Searsia pyroides

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A plant which varies a lot. It can be a shrub or a tree. It is spreading. It can be 5 m tall. It is frequently spiny. The bark is dark brown. The young stems are green. They often have rusty velvet hairs and stout spines. It can be evergreen or lose its leaves in the dry season. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets vary in shape. The end leaflet can be 3-8 cm long by 1-2.3 cm wide. The side leaflets are shorter. The leaves are dark green on both surfaces and have a white covering of hairs. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are very small and yellow. The occur in heads at the ends of branches. These can be 20 cm long. The fruit is 4-5 mm across. They are red when mature. There are several varieties.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant and subtropical plant. It is drought resistant. It grows in open woodland. It is also on rocky hillsides and along watercourses. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows in dry places and in rocky locations. It can grow in woodland or desert. In southern Africa it grows between 6-2,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw as a snack. The fruit are dried and used to make a drink.

Edible parts

Fruit, fruit - drink, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The older seeds should be soaked in water overnight.

It is moderately fast growing. The fruit are harvested by bending over the branches and plucking the fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Awaca, Awaya, Ewayo, Epwatet, Kitheu, Mutheu, Mutheu munene, Oyukwere, Qadhadhiya

Synonyms

Rhus dinteri; Rhus pyroides Burch.; Rhus pyroides Burch. var gracilis Burtt Davy; Rhus pyroides Burch. var puberula (Ecklon & Zeyher) Schonl.; Rhus vulgaris Meikle; Rhus baurii Schonl.;