Searsia incisa var. incisa

Searsia incisa var. incisa is a much branched shrub or small tree from a broad coastal region along the South African west and south coasts (SA Tree List No. 385).

It is commonly called the rub-rub currant. This name was earned due to the edible fruits that are collected from the fruit clusters hanging from the tree in spring and summer. To remove the long soft hairs from the tiny fleshy fruits before eating them, they are vigorously rubbed between the hands. The Afrikaans name of baardbessie (beard berry) refers to the same feature of the cream to pinkish brown fruits (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).