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Thorny Crow-berry
Searsia refracta
SA tree no: 389.1
English: Thorny Crow-berry, Brown Crowberry, Forked Karoo Currant, Zig-zag Currant
Afrikaans: Growweblaartaaibos, Haaktou, Karoosmalblaar-taaibos
Misapplied or old scientific names: Rhus refracta, Toxicodendron refractum
Searsia refracta, commonly known as the Thorny Crow-berry or Zig-zag Currant, is a tough and distinctive indigenous shrub or small tree found widely across South Africa, especially in drier regions. Its most unique feature is its stiff, zig-zagging branches that often end in a spine, giving it a very characteristic shape. It has small, light green leaves, often in clusters, and produces tiny, creamy-yellow flowers followed by small, reddish-brown fruits that are a food source for birds.
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Distinguishing features:
A scrambling shrub or small tree, typically 2–4 metres high.
Features stiff, zig-zagging (refracted) branches that often end in a spine.
Has small, trifoliolate (3-parted) leaves, light green, often appearing in clusters.
The leaflets are linear to narrowly obovate, measuring 10–30 mm long and 2–8 mm wide.
Produces small, inconspicuous, creamy-yellow flowers.
Bears tiny, shiny, reddish-brown, roundish fruits (drupes) about 4–5 mm in diameter.
Overall Appearance:
Searsia refracta forms a dense, often multi-stemmed scrambling shrub or a small tree with a rather rugged appearance. Its most notable feature is the stiff, angular, zig-zagging pattern of its branches, which helps to identify it, especially when leafless.
Height:
Typically grows between 2 and 5 metres high.
Width:
Forms a scrambling, often dense, shrub. Width can vary depending on growth habit and location, often spreading outwards.
Leaves:
Arranged in clusters (fascicles) on dwarf outgrowths, particularly on older branches.
Trifoliolate, meaning each leaf is composed of three leaflets.
Light green, often with a slightly bluish-green hue.
Leaflets are typically linear to narrowly obovate (wedge-shaped, wider at the tip), measuring 10–30 mm long and 2–8 mm wide.
Their margins (edges) are usually entire (smooth), but can sometimes have a few teeth towards the apex (tip).
The midrib is prominent on the underside of the leaflet.
They can be either hairy or completely hairless.
Distinguishing Feature: Leaflets are distinctly twisted or "refracted" at the base, giving them a characteristic appearance.
Flowers:
Small and inconspicuous.
Greenish-yellow in colour.
Produced in short, branched clusters called panicles.
This plant is dioecious, meaning it has male flowers and female flowers on separate individual plants.
Flowering season:
Typically flowers in spring to early summer, from October to December.
Fruits:
Small, round, fleshy drupes (berries).
Initially green, ripening to a creamy-white or pinkish-brown.
Measure about 4–5 mm in diameter.
Seeds:
Each fruit contains a single hard seed.
Bark:
Greyish-brown in colour. It is smooth when the plant is young, but becomes rougher and more fissured (cracked) with age.
Wood:
Hard and dense.
Stems:
Characterised by stiff, distinctive zig-zagging (refracted) branches. These branches often end in a spine, giving the plant a thorny appearance.
Thorns:
This plant is thorny. Its stiff, zig-zagging branch tips often end in a spine.
Soil Type:
Thrives in well-drained soil. It is very adaptable and can tolerate rocky and generally poor soil conditions, which is common in the dry regions where it grows.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun. It is highly drought-tolerant once established and is also notably frost hardy, making it well-suited to harsh climatic conditions.
Edibility:
The fruits are edible for humans, but they are not considered very palatable (tasty). They are primarily a food source for birds and other animals.
Toxicity:
No known toxicity to humans or animals has been reported for Searsia refracta.
Uses:
Ornamental: Can be used in gardens, particularly in dry or indigenous landscapes, for its unique architectural form and hardiness.
Informal Hedging: Its dense, spiny nature makes it suitable for informal hedging or as a barrier plant.
Erosion Control: Its robust root system and growth habit can assist in controlling soil erosion, especially on slopes.
Wildlife Food Source: The fruits provide food for birds and small mammals.
Browse Plant: Its leaves are browsed by various game animals.
Traditional Medicine: The leaves and bark have been used in traditional medicine for various ailments.
Ecology:
Pollination: The small, creamy-yellow flowers attract various insects, which assist in pollination. Since male and female flowers are on separate plants, both are needed for fruit production.
Seed Dispersal: The fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals, which then disperse the seeds, aiding in the plant's spread across its natural habitat.
Herbivory: The leaves are browsed by a variety of game animals, contributing to the food web in its ecosystem.
Habitat: Its dense, scrambling growth can provide shelter for smaller animals.
Distribution and habitat:
Searsia refracta is widespread across South Africa.
South African Provinces: It is found in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape provinces.
Habitat: It mainly occurs in the dry interior, particularly in Karoo regions, but its distribution extends to various other parts of the country. It grows naturally in scrubland, on stony slopes, along riverbanks, and in open veld. It is highly adaptable to various dry, terrestrial environments.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Searsia honours Paul B. Sears (1891–1990), who was an American ecologist and botanist. The genus Searsia was previously included in Rhus, but scientific studies (like DNA analysis) showed that the African species formed a distinct group, leading to the creation of the Searsia genus.
The specific epithet refracta is Latin and means 'bent back' or 'zig-zagged'. This refers directly to the distinctive, angular, and zig-zagging growth pattern of its branches, which is a key identification feature.
The Afrikaans common name "Haaktou" means "hook rope", likely referring to its scrambling, hooked branches. "Karoosmalblaar-taaibos" translates to "Karoo narrow-leaf tough bush", describing its habitat, leaf shape, and resilience.
Historical aspects:
Like many Searsia species, Searsia refracta was formerly classified under the genus Rhus. Its widespread distribution and resilience highlight its long history of adapting to diverse and often challenging South African environments.
Interesting facts:
This plant has "zig-zag" branches, which is exactly what its scientific name refracta means! It's super easy to spot once you know that trick.
It's called "Haaktou" in Afrikaans, which means "hook rope" – probably because its stiff, angled branches can be a bit grabby, almost like a hook!
Even though its fruits aren't super tasty for us humans, they're a good snack for local birds and small animals, making it a mini-food station in the veld.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily propagated from both seeds and cuttings. Seeds: Sow seeds in spring. For better germination rates, the seeds often require scarification (lightly scratching or nicking the hard outer coat of the seed) before planting. Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings taken during the summer months generally root well.
Planting: Plant in a sunny position with well-drained soil. It is highly adaptable to various soil types, including rocky or poor soils.
Watering: Once established, Searsia refracta is highly drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering. Young plants should be watered regularly until they are well-established.
Frost: It is notably frost hardy, making it suitable for many interior regions of South Africa that experience cold winters.
Maintenance: Generally a low-maintenance shrub. Pruning can be done to shape the plant, control its size, or remove any dead branches.
Pests/Diseases: It is generally robust and not prone to many serious pests or diseases.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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