Searsia lucens (Hutch.) Moffett

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Habit
Rocky wooded grassland by the shore of Lake Tanganyika
Nsumbu National Park
Jun 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Inflorescence
Rocky wooded grassland by the shore of Lake Tanganyika
Nsumbu National Park
Jun 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Drupes
Rocky wooded grassland by the shore of Lake Tanganyika
Nsumbu National Park
Jun 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Rhus lucens Hutch.
Common names:
Frequency:	Occasional
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree up to 4.5 m tall; old branches dull-greyish, lenticellate, glabrous, the younger ones brownish-grey, glabrous or sparsely patent-pilose; petiole 1.5-2.5 cm. long, flat and slightly marginate above, glabrous or pilose; leaflets glaucous or pale grey-green on the upper surface, paler below, leathery, glabrous or sparsely pilose, rounded or retuse, or emarginated at apex with the margin shallowly crenate, median leaflet (2.5)4.5-8.5 x 1.5-5 cm., obovate to subcircular, narrowed and cuneate at the base, lateral leaflets obovate to subcircular, rounded and frequently emarginated at apex, almost cuneate to rounded at base, midrib and lateral nerves raised mainly on the under surface, reticulation conspicuous above; panicles shorter than leaves, lax, with the axis and branches pilose; male flowers: calyx-segments 0.5 mm. long, ovate, obtuse, petals c. 1.25 mm. long, ovate-oblong, obtuse, filaments c. 0.5 mm. long.; drupe yellowish-brown, shining or somewhat pruinose, 4 x 5 mm., compressed, sub-quadrate, asymmetrical.
Type location:	Zimbabwe, near Victoria Falls, Hutchinson & Gillet 3473 (BM; K, holotype; SRGH)
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	lucens: shining
Habitat:	In open spots in dry forest and in escarpment woodlands
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	May - Jul
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana to Zimbabwe and Zambia
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 25 July 2020
Literature:	Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 254. Fernandes, R. & A. (1966). Anacardiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Page 600. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 171. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 17. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 23.

Other sources of information about Searsia lucens:

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Flora of Botswana: Searsia lucens
Flora of Zimbabwe: Searsia lucens

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Searsia lucens
African Plant Database: Searsia lucens
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Searsia lucens
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Searsia lucens
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Searsia lucens
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Searsia lucens
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Searsia lucens
JSTOR Plant Science: Searsia lucens
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Searsia lucens
Plants of the World Online: Searsia lucens
Tropicos: Searsia lucens
Wikipedia: Searsia lucens