Searsia lancea
{{Short description|Species of tree belonging to the cashew and sumac family}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Karee
| image = Rhus_lancea,_foliage_detail.jpg
| image_caption = Foliage detail
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Searsia
| species = lancea
| authority = (L.f.) F.A.Barkley
| range_map = Karee (Searsia lancea) IUCN range 2018.svg
| range_map_caption = {{colorbull|#ced900|r||14}} range records, IUCN (2018)
| synonyms = {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
- Rhus lancea L.f.
- Toxicodendron lanceum (L.f.) Kuntze
}}
| synonyms_ref = {{citation
|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2479819
|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species
|access-date=28 April 2016}}
}}
Image:Karee Trees.jpg, Gauteng]]
Searsia lancea commonly known as karee (archaically karree), is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to {{Convert|8|m}} in height with a {{Convert|5|m|adj=on}} spread. It is one of the most common trees on the Highveld and in the Bushveld in South Africa, but not found in the Lowveld. In North America, where it is naturalised, it is known as African sumac and willow rhus.{{PLANTS|id=RHLA11|taxon=Rhus lancea|accessdate=21 October 2015}}
Common names
S. lancea bears many names by locals in South Africa. By far the most common name for this tree is karee, which derives from the Khoekhoegowab name !areb.Christie 2022, p. 138 This is mostly used by speakers of Afrikaans. Other Afrikaans names are Rosyntjiebos from rosyn (raisin) and bos (bush).{{cite web | url=https://sun.gardenexplorer.org/taxon-675.aspx | title=Searsia lancea - Rooikaree, Karee, umHlakotshane, Mosabele, Mosilabele, Mushakaladza | Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa }}
In the Sotho–Tswana languages, the names mosilabele in Southern Sotho, mokalabata in Northern Sotho and mosabele in Tswana are cognates.{{cite web | url=http://pza.sanbi.org/searsia-lancea | title=Searsia lancea | PlantZAfrica }} In Khelobedu, the names is {{lang|nso|motshakhutshakhu}} and mushakaladza in Venda.{{cite web | url=https://www.randomharvest.co.za/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/95/Plant/Rhus-lancea?Filter=All | title=Searsia lancea Karee Karee Mushakaladza Mošabêlê Umhlakotshane }}
Among Nguni languages the name umhlakotshane in Zulu and Xhosa is used and in Swati the name given is inhlangutshane{{cite web | url=https://www.jhbcityparksandzoo.com/services-facilities/ecological-services/common-trees-in-johannesburg | title=Common Trees in Johannesburg }}
Description and uses
{{multiple image
| align = left
| caption_align = center
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Rhus lancea01.jpg
| alt1 =
| width1 = 155
| caption1 = Bark
| image2 = Rhus lancea00.jpg
| alt2 =
| width2 = 155
| caption2 = Wood
}}
The tree is dioecious.{{cite web |title=Searsia lancea|work=PlantZAfrica.com |url=http://pza.sanbi.org/searsia-lancea|access-date=2021-08-26}} It has a graceful, weeping form and dark, fissured bark that contrasts well with its long, thinnish, hairless, dark-green, trifoliate leaves with smooth margins. It bears small yellow flowers followed on female trees by bunches of small yellow-green flattish fruits, which are relished by birds. In earlier times the fruits were pounded, water added and left to ferment, producing an evidently refreshing beer. The tree is a good shade tree for gardens, parks and pavements. It favours areas rich in lime in the Karoo and Namibia.
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite book |first1=Braam |last1=Van Wyk |first2=Piet |last2=Van Wyk|title=Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgj04X12TtgC |year=1997 |publisher=Struik |isbn=978-1-86825-922-9}}
- Christie, C. R. (2022). [https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2224-33802022000500006 Khoekhoe Lexical Borrowing in Regionalised Afrikaans] in Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Vol. 64.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15525290|from2=Q3643968}}
Category:Trees of South Africa
Category:Garden plants of Southern Africa