Searsia pyroides var. pyroides

These Searsia pyroides leaves and inflorescences near a stem tip are covered in short, silky hairs.

The spaced, incurving lateral veins and midribs of the leaflets have a dull creamy colour. The midribs are raised upon the upper leaflet surfaces seen here; on some varieties of the tree they are raised on both surfaces. Some sharply pointed leaflet tips are visible. The faintly hairy leaf petioles, long on this plant, contrast against the absence of petiolules on the leaflets.

The branched, dense flower clusters developing in the axillary inflorescences comprise buds that are globular, yellowish and hairy.

The tree in picture is believed to be S. pyroides var. pyroides that occurs widespread, here growing in the Magaliesberg. There are three varieties in south Africa, the others with smaller distribution areas (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).