Rhus lancea

Rhus lancea L.f. (syn. Searsia lancea (L. f.) F. A. Barkley), commonly known as karee (English and Afrikaans), "hlokoshiyne" (isiZulu), "umhlakotshane" (amaXhosa), or "mokalaabata" (Northern Sotho), is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to 8 metres in height with a 5 metre spread. 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 and is one of the most common trees on the Highveld and in the Bushveld in South Africa, but not found in the Lowveld. It favours areas rich in lime in the Karoo and Namibia. The name Rhus is derived from the Greek for "red", an allusion to the striking autumn colours of some species, while lancea refers to the lance-shaped leaves and Karee is derived from Karoo. In North America, where it is naturalized, it is known as African sumac and willow rhus.