Glossy currant, Glossy crowberry
Searsia lucida

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-3 m tall. It can be 5 m tall and spread 4 m across. The leaves are shiny. They have 3 leaflets. The flowers are white. The fruit are green. They become red-brown as they ripen. They are 5 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level in South Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw as a snack and also used to curdle milk.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Amapozi, Blinktaaibos, Inhlokoshiyane, Inhlolokotshane, Knakerbos, Taaibos

Synonyms

Rhus lucida L.; Rhus lucida var. outeniquensis Schonland; Rhus schlechteri Diels;