Searsia erosa, the broom karee

Searsia erosa (SA Tree List No. 383) is usually less than tree, merely a sprawling, branched shrub. It often does not reach the 4 m recorded for thriving specimens. This one was found on a stony hill in north-eastern Free State grassland, consistent with its expected habitat. This is close to the northern extreme of the plant’s distribution area, as it is not much seen in the Free State.

The cinnamon brown twig colour found in descriptions of the plant can more or less be seen in this photo. The lenticels on the stem are not visible here, but the narrow leaflets, conspicuously toothed, are in evidence, as well as the net-veining of the leaves. Some of the yellowy cream clusters of tiny flowers are also captured in this October photo.

S. erosa, the broom karee or in Afrikaans besemkaree, is a garden plant, also used in hedges (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).