Searsia pendulina (Jacq.) Moffett

Single-stemmed, much-branched, semi-evergreen tree up to 10 m high, rarely a multistemmed shrub. Stem often spinous, bark grey-brown, relatively smooth becoming rough and scaly when old; branches pendulous, branchlets light brown. Leaves trifoliolate, petiolate; petiole slender, semiterete, canaliculate above, (9-)20(-41) mm long; leaflets sessile, membranous, glabrous, concolorous, dull green above, very slightly paler below, amphistomatous; lamina lanceolate, base cuneate, apex subacute to acute, mucronulate; margin entire, sometimes ciliolate; venation kladodromous to brochidodromous, midrib prominent above and below, secondaries impressed, others obscure; terminal leaflets (21-)58(-95) x (6-)11(-15) mm, lateral leaflets (16-)41(-71) x (5-)10(-14) mm. Panicles up to 80 mm long, pubescent, axillary and terminal, exposed, males much branched, flowers crowded, females less ramified. Flowers normal but very small, calyx lobes pubescent. Drupe circular, ellipsoid, glabrous, reddish, drying black, 4.0 x 2.7-4.8 x 3.2 mm.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in places with a marked dry season. It is often on soils that are regularly waterlogged. It can tolerate frost. In southern Africa it grows from 360-900 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in semi-desert areas mainly along river banks. It is reasonably drought resistant.

The fruit are eaten. They are tasty when dried. They are also soaked overnight in milk or are mixed with the gum of Acacia karoo to make a sticky sweet. The fruit are mixed with the gum or Acacia karoo to make a sticky sweet. They are also used for beer.

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Fresh seeds germinate easily. Seeds germinate in 8-14 days. Seedlings can be transplanted at the 2 leaf stage. It can be cut back and re-grows. It can be grown from cuttings. Cuttings 10-20 cm long are suitable.