Searsia F.A. Barkley
Genus composed of about 110 species distributed mainly in Africa and western Asia. In North Africa it is represented by 5 species, distributed through Mediterranean and semidesert areas, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Recent molecular analyses have shown that Searsia is a monophyletic genus and has been separated from Rhus.
Moffet, R.O. 2007. Name changes in the Old World Rhus and recognition of Searsia (Anacardiaceae). Bothalia 37(2): 165-175.
Key to species
1 Leaves greenish-ashen, silvery Searsia albida
1 Leaves green, sometimes light green, but never ashy nor silvery 2
2 Leaves generally with 5 linear leaflets. Fruit globose Searsia pentaphylla
2 Leaves with 3 leaflets, obovate-lanceolate. Fruit circular, compressed 3
3 Branchlets spinescent Searsia tripartita
3 Branchlets not spinescent 4
4 Leaflets up to 5 cm, suborbicular to ovate-elliptic, With rounded apex Searsia flexicaulis
4 Leaflets up to 15 cm, ovate-lanceolate, with acute apex Searsia glutinosa
Updated by: A. Lahora.