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<big>''[[Searsia lancea]]'' (L.f.) F.A.Barkley</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Searsia lancea'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Lundell, Fl. Texas 3: 104 (1943).
:Family: Anacardiaceae
:Chromosome number: 2''n'' = 30
Bark extracts showed in-vitro antibacterial activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Leaves yield 0.2% of essential oil, with α-pinene, benzene and δ-3-carene as main constituents. The oil showed remarkable anti-oxidant activity and dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal activities. These activities may be associated with the high concentration of α-pinene in the oil (87%). The flavour of cattle milk is affected when large quantities of ''Searsia lancea'' leaves are browsed.
== Botany Description ==
Evergreen, dioecious shrub or small tree up to 9(–12) m tall, glabrous; bole often twisted and crooked; bark surface dark grey to dark brown, rough, often irregularly fissured; twigs reddish brown, angular or slightly grooved, pendulous. Leaves arranged spirally, 3-foliolate; stipules absent; petiole 2–7 cm long, slender but slightly winged near apex, grooved above; leaflets sessile, narrowly lanceolate, often slightly sickle-shaped, 7–24.5 cm × 0.5–3 cm, cuneate at base, acute at apex, margins entire, thinly leathery, pinnately veined with numerous lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal, much-branched panicle up to 9 cm long, lax. Flowers unisexual, regular, usually 5-merous, greenish yellow; pedicel 2–3 mm long; calyx segments c. 0.5 mm long, obtuse; petals free, oblong, c. 1.5 mm long; stamens usually 5, free; disk cup-shaped; ovary superior, globose, 1-celled, styles 3, thick, recurved; male flowers without ovary or with strongly rudimentary ovary, female flowers with rudimentary stamens. Fruit a depressed-globose drupe 4–6.5 mm in diameter, often slightly asymmetric, dull yellow to greyish or brown, with fleshy pulp.
== Other botanical information ==
''Searsia lancea'' grows fairly fast, up to 80 cm/year in height for young trees. It flowers from April to September(–January) and ripe fruits can be found from September to February. The flowers have a sweet smell and are visited by insects such as bees, which serve as pollinators. The fruits are eaten by birds such as guinea-fowl, francolins and bulbuls, which are probably the main seed dispersers.
''Searsia'' comprises approximately 110 species and occurs in southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Southern Africa is by far richest in species. Until recently, most authors did not separate ''Searsia'' from ''Rhus'', although the separation has already been proposed at the beginning of the 1940s. Recent phylogenetic research using DNA and gene spacer data confirmed that ''Searsia'' is distinct from ''Rhus'' sensu stricto, which is limited to the Northern Hemisphere.
Several other ''Searsia'' spp. produce wood that is used for similar purposes as that of ''Searsia lancea''. The wood of ''Searsia glutinosa'' (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Moffett (synonyms: ''Rhus abyssinica'' Oliv., ''Rhus glutinosa'' Hochst. ex A.Rich.), a shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall from Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, is used for agricultural implements and tool handles, and as firewood. The leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat influenza, the roots in veterinary medicine to treat udder complaints. They have been used for tanning.
=== ''Searsia glutinosa'' ===The reddish, hard and tough wood of ''[[Searsia gueinziiglutinosa]]'' (Sond.) FHochst.ex A.Barkley Rich.) Moffett (synonymsynonyms: ''Rhus gueinziiabyssinica'' SondOliv., ''Rhus glutinosa'' Hochst. ex A.Rich.), a shrub or small tree up to 8 10 m tall occurring in Zimbabwefrom Sudan, southern Mozambique Eritrea and eastern South AfricaEthiopia, is used for wall laths in house buildingagricultural implements and tool handles, and as firewood. Branches The leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat eye complaints; they are made into a lotioninfluenza, or smoke from burning twigs is applied to the eyes. A root infusion is taken roots in veterinary medicine to treat schistosomiasis and a leaf decoction against gall sicknessudder complaints. They have been used for tanning.
=== ''Searsia gueinzii'' ===The stems reddish, hard and tough wood of ''[[Searsia lucidagueinzii]]'' (LSond.) F.A.Barkley (synonym: ''Rhus lucidagueinzii'' LSond.), a shrub or small tree up to 7 8 m tall from occurring in Zimbabwe , southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa, are valued for fence posts. The bark has been is used for tanningwall laths in house building. Ground bark Branches are used to treat eye complaints; they are made into a lotion, or smoke from burning twigs is applied to ring worm infectionsthe eyes. A root infusion is taken to treat schistosomiasis and a leaf decoction against gall sickness.
=== ''Searsia pendulina'' ===
The stems of ''[[Searsia pendulina]]'' (Jacq.) Moffett (synonyms: ''Rhus pendulina'' Jacq., ''Rhus viminalis'' auct. non Aiton nec Vahl), a small tree up to 10 m tall occurring in Namibia and South Africa, are used as fence posts and in hut building, whereas the twigs are used for fish traps. The bark yields a reddish brown dye. The fruits are edible and have been used in beer making. ''Searsia pendulina'' is planted as ornamental tree.
=== ''Searsia retinorrhoea'' ===
The wood of ''[[Searsia retinorrhoea]]'' (Steud. ex Oliv.) Moffett (synonym: ''Rhus retinorrhoea'' Steud. ex Oliv.), a shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Arabia, is used for agricultural implements and walking sticks, and as firewood. The leaves serve for local mattresses. Several flavonoids have been isolated from the leaves, some of which showed weak antibacterial and antimalarial activities in vitro.
== Ecology ==
''Searsia lancea'' occurs in grassland and open woodland, often on river banks and termite mounds. It is considered as an indicator of underground water. It seems to prefer soils rich in lime. Once established, the tree is drought and frost tolerant.
== Management ==
== Author(s) ==
* R.H.M.J. Lemmens , PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
== Correct citation of this article ==
Lemmens, R.H.M.J., 2009. '''Searsia lancea''' (L.f.) F.A.Barkley. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.
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[[Category:PROTA prov]][[Category:Timbers (PROTA)]]