Searsia crenata, previously known as Rhus crenata, ("dune crow-berry"), is a species of Searsia that is native to South Africa, where it grows in frost-free and light frost areas, especially on beach sand dunes.

Searsia crenata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Searsia
Species:
S. crenata
Binomial name
Searsia crenata
(Thunb.) Moffett
Synonyms

Rhus crenata Thunb.

Description

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Detail of flowers of the dune crow-berry.

It is a multibranched evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 3 metres and a similar spread.

The leaf stalks (petioles) are about 2 mm in length. Each leaflet is obovate-cuneate with three distinct bumps at the broad tip (tricrenate).

The small flowers are produced in autumn, and are followed by dark blue fruit eaten by birds.

Distribution

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This species is found along the southern coast of South Africa, from Cape Town as far east as the Kei river. Its favoured habitat is stabilised sand dunes.[1]

Cultivation

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The tree is a good subject for bonsai, and can easily be pruned into a very neat hedge. It enjoys full sun and is semi frost hardy.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Coates Palgrave, M. (2002) Trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
  2. ^ "Searsia crenata | PlantZAfrica".

  Media related to Searsia crenata at Wikimedia Commons