Sour karee
Searsia ciliata

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

An erect evergreen shrub. It grows up to 2-5 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. It forms thickets. The trunk is slender, rough and brown. The crown is somewhat rounded. The stems can be spiny. The leaves have 3 leaflets and these are narrowly oval to triangle shaped. There can be teeth along the edge. They often have fine hairs. The flowers are small, yellow and star like. They are in a loose group at the ends of the branches. The fruit are brown and fleshy. They are 4-5 mm across. They are almost round but slightly flattened.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in regions with a marked dry season. It can tolerate frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 100-500 mm. It is often on well drained limestone soils. In Southern Africa it grows between 300-1,650 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Okasauroro

Synonyms

Rhus ciliata Licht. ex Schultes;