Searsia laevigata

Searsia laevigata, the dune currant or in Afrikaans the duinetaaibos (dune sticky bush), is a dense shrub or spreading tree reaching 4 m in height (SA Tree List No 385.2).

Its leaves are trifoliolate, the leaflets widely obovate in shape. The terminal leaflet is notably bigger than the lateral ones, up to 6,5 cm long and 5 cm wide. There are no petiolules (stalks on the leaflets), but the leaf itself has a stalk of up to 3 cm long that is narrowly winged.

The leaflet tip is rounded with a final, small sharp tip, the base tapering narrowly. Leaflet margins are entire, rolled under. The net-veining is translucent and conspicuous. The leaf colour, texture and hairiness vary widely; four varieties of this shrub have been recognised.

The specific name, laevigata, is derived from the Latin words levis meaning smooth and -atus indicating possession or likeness. The smooth and polished look suggested characterises some of the plants only.

The species distribution is coastal, in the Northern Cape southwards from Komaggas, all along the Western Cape coast and as far east in the Eastern Cape as East London.

The habitat is fynbos, succulent Karoo and Albany thicket on stony hills and coastal dunes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Andrew, 2017; www.redlist.sanbi.org).