Searsia flexicaulis (Baker) Moffett
Rhus flexicaulis Baker
Shrub or small tree, up to 7 m in height, but generally smaller (2-3 m). Bark greyish-brown and branchlets densely hairy-tomentose. Leaves digitate, with petiole 1-2 cm and 3 sessile leaflets 2-5 × 1.5-3 cm, suborbicular to ovate-elliptical, with entire margin and rounded apex; the central leaflet larger than the 2 lateral ones, with dense brown hairs on both sides. Flowers minute, in lax axillary panicles, shorter than adjacent leaf. Pedicels villous erect-patent, longer than the flowers, bracts acute and ovate. Sepals ovate. Petals oblong, obtuse, greenish, 2-3 times longer than the calyx. Stamens shorter than the petals. Drupe globose 5 × 4 mm, lustrous brown.
Flowering:
September to November.
Fruiting:
October to December.
Habitat:
Valleys on uneven terrain and rock ledges, above 1,000 m.
Distribution:
It was considered endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, but it also appears in isolated populations across the Red Sea, in Jebel Elba and Erkowit Mts.
Observations:
The taxonomic identity of African populations still remain uncertain and could be considered a different species of those in the Arabian Peninsula.
Conservation status:
Rare species and with small distribution area. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.