Thorny taaibos, Spiny rhus
Searsia gueinzii

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can be up to 6 m tall. It may have many stems and the bark is cracked. The branches are slender and often arch over. It may or may not have spines. The spines can vary. The leaves also vary. They usually have 3 leaflets which are oval. The central leaflet is long. It can be 7 cm long with a bluntly pointed tip. The edges of the leaves normally have teeth. The leaves are paler underneath. The midrib can normally be easily seen on both surfaces. The leaf stalks are usually red and slender. The flowers are small and yellow. The flowers are in loose heads both at the ends of branches and in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round but often slightly lopsided. They are brown. The fruit are edible.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in scrub forest and on stony ground. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

InHlangushane, Motshotlho, Spiny rhus, Thorny karee

Synonyms

Rhus crispa (Engl.) Harvey ex Sonder; Rhus gueinzii Sonder; Rhus gueinzii Sonder var. spinescens (Diels) R. & A. Fernandez; Rhus simii Schonl.; Rhus simii Schonl. var. lydenburgensis Schonl. ; Rhus spinescens Diels;