Searsia dentata

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Searsia dentata
Searsia dentata02.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Searsia
Species:
S. dentata
Binomial name
Searsia dentata
(Thunb.) F.A.Barkley
Synonyms

Rhus dentataThunb.

Searsia dentata, the nana-berry (English), or nanabessie (Afrikaans), is a medium-sized, deciduous tree, reaching a height of about 5 metres and a spread of 4 metres, and with a tendency to scramble through and over neighbouring trees. It occurs naturally in almost the whole of South Africa except the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. Its habitat varies from sea level to the highlands of the Drakensberg. It is frost-hardy and should be planted in full sun. The strongly aromatic leaves are usually conspicuously toothed (hence the name dentata), though sometimes they may be only slightly toothed. The tree produces small, creamy-white flowers in masses, developing into small, flattened drupes (5-6mm) which turn red or orange when ripe and brown when dry. The ripe fruits are eaten by birds, while the foliage is food for the larvae of the pepper tree moth Bombycomorpha bifascia .

Bombycomorpha bifascia feeding on Searsia dentata Bombycomorpha bifascia 00.jpg
Bombycomorpha bifascia feeding on Searsia dentata
Autumn colours of Searsia dentata Searsia dentata00.jpg
Autumn colours of Searsia dentata

References

    Further reading