Dune Currantrhus

Searsia laevigata

Searsia laevigata, the dune currant rhus, is a small, bushy, evergreen tree that occurs in rocky fynbos slopes and coastal shrub in South Africa.

Searsia laevigata, the dune currant rhus, is a small, bushy, evergreen tree that occurs in rocky fynbos slopes and coastal shrub in South Africa.

Description
It looks very similar to its close relative Searsia glauca but has larger leaflets. It was previously classified as Rhus laevigata

Distribution
This species is primarily coastal, occurring in coastal dunes along the western and southern coast of the former Cape Province, South Africa.
The low-growing variety villosa, with hairy (villose) leaflets, is exclusively coastal.
However, the hairless variety Searsia laevigata var. laevigata, while occurring along the coast, also extends inland as far as the Little Karoo in the north, and Bredasdorp in the west.

Notes
References
Van Wyk: Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa, Struik, 1997.