Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Searsia lancea

Searsia lancea commonly known as karee, is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to 8 metres (26 ft) in height with a 5-metre (16 ft) 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.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
468 w
Citations
9
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Karee
Foliage detail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Searsia
Species:
S. lancea
Binomial name
Searsia lancea
● range records, IUCN (2018)
Synonyms2
  • Rhus lancea L.f.
  • Toxicodendron lanceum (L.f.) Kuntze
A cluster of karees in Germiston, Gauteng source ↗

Searsia lancea commonly known as karee (archaically karree), is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to 8 metres (26 ft) in height with a 5-metre (16 ft) 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.3

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.4 This is mostly used by speakers of Afrikaans. Other Afrikaans names are Rosyntjiebos from rosyn (raisin) and bos (bush).5

In the Sotho–Tswana languages, the names mosilabele in Southern Sotho, mokalabata in Northern Sotho and mosabele in Tswana are cognates.6 In Khelobedu, the names is motshakhutshakhu and mushakaladza in Venda.7

Among Nguni languages the name umhlakotshane in Zulu and Xhosa is used and in Swati the name given is inhlangutshane8

Description and uses

Bark
Wood
The small yellow flowers of a female tree source ↗

The tree is dioecious.9 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

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Searsia lancea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T146204708A146204710. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146204708A146204710.en. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  2. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 28 April 2016
  3. NRCS. "Rhus lancea". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  4. Christie 2022, p. 138
  5. "Searsia lancea - Rooikaree, Karee, umHlakotshane, Mosabele, Mosilabele, Mushakaladza | Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa".
  6. "Searsia lancea | PlantZAfrica".
  7. "Searsia lancea Karee Karee Mushakaladza Mošabêlê Umhlakotshane".
  8. "Common Trees in Johannesburg".
  9. "Searsia lancea". PlantZAfrica.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.