Karee tree

Afrikaans name: Karee

Karee tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Rhus lancea / Searsia lancea

The Karee is at most a medium-sized tree that reaches a maximum height of 7 metres. It spreads widely and may measure 7 metres across. It is single-stemmed but it doesn't appear to be so as it branches out low down.

The Karee's leaves are made up of 3 leaflets. They are darker above than below. During late winter and early spring it gets small yellowish flowers. Fruit is produced in spring and early summer.

This tree occurs widely across South Africa but is absent from KwaZulu-Natal.

The Karee is popular amongst birds that enjoy the fruit. The leaves are eaten by browsers such as Kudu.

Above - Leaves of the Karee

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

What Tree is That? - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1967 - Page: 35

What s that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 112

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 94

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 202

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 573

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 47

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 104

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 199

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 52

SA Wild Flower Guide No 6 - Karoo - Author: David Shearing & Katryn van Heerden - Published: 1997 - Page: 96

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 246

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 232

Plants of the Baviaanskloof - Author: D Euston-Brown & M Kruger - Published: 2023 - Page: 216

Pocket Guide - Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2013 - Page: 81

Gardening with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1988 - Page: 78

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 48

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 12

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 268

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 171

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 188

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 205

Everyone s Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 59

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 286

For more info: SANBI

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