Rhus lancea L.f. commonly known as Karee (English and Afrikaans) in Hlokoshiyne (isiZulu) Umhlakotshane (amaXhosa) Mokalaabata (North Sotho), is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to 8 metres in height with a 5 metre spread. It has a graceful, weeping form and dark, fissured bark that contrasts well with its long, thinnish, hairless, dark-green, trifoliate leaves with smooth margins. It bears small yellow flowers followed on female trees by bunches of small yellow-green flattish fruits, which are relished by birds. In earlier times the fruits were pounded, water added and left to ferment, producing an evidently refreshing beer. The tree is a good shade tree for gardens, parks and pavements and is one of the most common trees on the Highveld

Highveld

The Highveld is a high plateau region of inland South Africa which is largely home to the largest metropolitan area in the country, the Gauteng City Region, which accounts for one-third of South Africa's population.-Location and description:...

 and in the Bushveld

Bushveld

The Bushveld is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of th Matabeleland North provinces of...

 in South Africa, but not found in the Lowveld. It favours areas rich in lime in the Karoo

Karoo

The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...

 and Namibia. The name Rhus is derived from the Greek for "red", an allusion to the striking autumn colours of some species, while lancea refers to the lance-shaped leaves and Karee is derived from Karoo.

Relationships

Rhus lancea L.f. is one of about 36 South African Rhus species which reach tree size. The genus is widespread in Europe, America, Asia and Africa occurring in sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions. Rhus coriaria

Rhus coriaria

Rhus coriaria, commonly called Elm-Leaved Sumach or Tanner's Sumach is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the Anacardiaceae or Cashew family, native to southern Europe. The dried fruit are used as a spice, particularly in combination with other spices in the mixture called Za'atar.- Uses :Caution...

L. is the Sumac from Southern Europe - its leaves are used for tanning and dyeing. Rhus toxicodendron L. is the North American poison-ivy - its sap producing ulcerations or erysipelas

Erysipelas

Erysipelas is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread.-Risk factors:...

. Rhus cotinus L. is the wig-tree found from the Mediterranean to China and often grown in shrubberies. Rhus vernicifera DC. is the lacquer-tree used in Japan - the lacquer is obtained by cutting slits in the bark. Rhus succedanea L. is the wax-tree of Japan - the crushed fruits yield wax.

The family Anacardiaceae

Anacardiaceae

Anacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula...

 also includes mangoes, cashews, pistachios and marulas.