Natal rhus
Searsia natalensis

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows to 6 m tall. The branches are rough and grey. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaves are leathery. They are a darker green on the upper surface than the lower surface. The leaflets are oblong and narrowing to the base. The tip is notched or bluntly pointed. The central leaflet is up to 9 cm long and 4 cm wide. Young leaves are a red colour. The flowers are small and greenish-white. They occur in branched bunches in the axils of leaves. The fruit are small, round or somewhat flattened and yellow-brown when ripe. They are edible.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows on coastal sand dunes, in dune forest and in open woodland. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 3,000 m altitude. It is mostly between 1,600-2,400 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The green and the ripe fruit are eaten fresh. It is squeezed between the hands before eating. The roots are used in soup. The tender shoots and leaves are chewed. The bark is used to make tea.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. Adults only eat them during famines.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark - tea, seeds, roots - flavour, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Fruit are collected in the dry season.

Its other names

Local names

Atami, Awawaca, Busojole, Dabobecha, Dabobeisa, Daboobessa diidaa, Dewa, Elakas, Ewayo, Ilka-adeis, Kabutayta, Kakonsokonso, Kimo, Kitheu, Kubri, Mapirankukute, Mbambi, Mechecho, Mhunguu, Mhugulu, Mkichaka, Mkono-chuma, Mkumba, Mpungulu, Msempele, Msulu, Mtatu, Mtunumbi, Muhehefu, Musekeyo, Mutheo, Metheu, Natal karee, Natal taaibos, Ng'hungulu, Ol-mesigie, Olmisigiyioi, Omusangura, Ongaprie, Ormisigiyoi, Ozokwere, Rwa-rwa, Sangala, Sangia, Sangla, Sangula, Selif, Seria, Shamutet, Siria, Siriewo, Sirongi, Sofa, Tetale, Tomotayita, Umbalamuno

Synonyms

Cissus natalensis Bernh. ex Krauss; Rhus crenulata A. Rich.; Rhus glaucescens A. Rich.; Rhus natalensis Bernh. ex Krauss; Toxicodendron natalensis Kuntze; and others