Searsia lucida branch

The spaced and erect side-branches of Searsia lucida may present an elegant array, rigid upon the robust shoot in the photo. Much bare stem is visible, even on the newer growth. The bark is grey to brown and granular from raised dots. New growth has resin on the young stem surfaces.

This plant was seen north of the Swartberg Mountains where one of the three recognised forms of the plant, forma lucida is found. The other two forms, forma scoparia and forma elliptica, are restricted to the southern coastal area and the far Western Cape respectively (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).