Searsia pyroides

Searsia pyroides, the common currant, is a variable species comprising several recorded varieties. The tree may become 6 m tall, although in certain parts of the large species distribution in southern Africa it is but a medium shrub (SA Tree List No. 392).

The specific name, pyroides, is derived from the Greek word pyros meaning fire, referring to the burning sensation received from a prick by a thorn.

The leaflets are elliptic to obovate. Some forms have entire margins, in others the upper parts are irregularly toothed.

The flowers are small and yellow, growing in terminal or axillary heads through summer and autumn. The fruits are globose and yellow to red, here showing a pale, almost translucent hue.

The species distribution is widespread all over the eastern parts of South Africa, while of the four varieties only var. pyroides occurs far enough to the west for being found in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. The tree also occurs in neighbouring countries including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and as far north as Tanzania. The photo was taken at Mount Sheba. 

The habitat is understandably diverse, including coastal dunes, grassy slopes, bushveld, woodland, thornveld and semi-desert, receiving much to little rain. All three the South African varieties are considered to be of least concern in Red List terms early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).