White karee
Searsia pendulina

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows 4-10 m high. It has a single stem but can have several stems. It can form thickets. It often loses many leaves during the year. The crown is round with drooping branches. The bark is grey-brown. The side shoots on young stems often have spines. The leaves are alternate. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets do not have stalks. The leaves are dull green above. The leaf stalks are 4 cm long. The end leaflet is sword shaped. It is 3-9 cm long by 0.6-1.5 cm wide. It tapers to the tip. The flowers are in panicles. They are small and greenish-yellow. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. They are in branched groups in the axils of leaves or near the ends of branches. These are 9 cm long and are furry. The fruit is fleshy with a stone inside. It is round and red but dries black. They are 3 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in places with a marked dry season. It is often on soils that are regularly waterlogged. It can tolerate frost. In southern Africa it grows from 360-900 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in semi-desert areas mainly along river banks. It is reasonably drought resistant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They are tasty when dried. They are also soaked overnight in milk or are mixed with the gum of Acacia karoo to make a sticky sweet. The fruit are mixed with the gum or Acacia karoo to make a sticky sweet. They are also used for beer.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Fresh seeds germinate easily. Seeds germinate in 8-14 days. Seedlings can be transplanted at the 2 leaf stage. It can be cut back and re-grows. It can be grown from cuttings. Cuttings 10-20 cm long are suitable.

Plants grow quickly. It grows 1 m in a year.

Its other names

Local names

Rivierkaree, Witkaree

Synonyms

Rhus pendulina Jacq. ex Willd.; Rhus viminalis Aiton;