Searsia dentata

Searsia dentata
Scientific classification
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 dentata Thunb.

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

Autumn colours of Searsia dentata

References[]

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Further reading[]

Titshall, L.W.; O'Connor, T.G.; Morris, C.D. (12 November 2009). "Effect of long-term exclusion of fire and herbivory on the soils and vegetation of sour grassland". African Journal of Range and Forage Science. 17 (1–3): 70–80. doi:10.2989/10220110009485742. S2CID 84859831. Retrieved 30 April 2015.

• "Searsia dentata". PlantZAfrica.com. Retrieved 2010-01-21.

Media related to Searsia dentata at Wikimedia Commons