Searsia longipes

Searsia longipes (Engl.) Moffet (syn. Rhus longipes Engl.)

Common names

Large-leaved Rhus (English); kasalasha, mulalusha, namulalusha (Bemba); chisitu (Kunda); chimwamanzi, mtatu, kamwazi, matsutula, mdima, mpilakukuru, mtatatu (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

Searsia longipes is a semi-deciduous shrub, climber or small tree up to 9 m tall, and is most easily recognised by its trifoliate leaves and sprays of flowers. Bark creamy brown, vertically cracked and scaly. Branchlets yellowish, hairy. Leaves alternate, compound, trifoliate. Leaflets obovate or obovate-elliptic, 4-9 x 2.5-4.5 cm, leathery, glabrous, ± pubescent on the mid-rib. Margin entire. Flowers fragrant, creamy white, produced in large sprays up to 18 x 12 cm (July-March). Fruit a spherical, glossy berry, 0.5 cm in diameter, containing 1-2 seeds (ripens February-November).

Also occasionally found in the valley are Searsia natalensis and Searsia pentheri. Searsia natalensis is a small tree of up to 9 m, found occasionally on termite mounds, and has toothed leaflet margins. Searsia pentheri is a small shrub or tree up to 6 m in height, found occasionally in riverine areas, with much smaller trifoliate leaves (leaflets up to 3.5 x 1.5 cm).

Range and habitat

Searsia longipes is found throughout much of tropical Africa. In the Luangwa Valley it is associated with valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket.