Searsia genus, was named after Paul B. Sears from the Yale University. Most of the species grown in southern Africa, belonging to the genus Rhus, have been placed in Searsia. In southern Africa there are about 111 species of Searsia. This genus is easy to recognise, as the leaves are all trifoliate and have a resinous smell when crushed.

Searsia lancea belongs to the family Anacardiaceae (Mango family). The epiphet lancea refers to the lance shaped leaflets. African name karee is said to be the original Khoi word for mead. The tree occurs naturally from Zambia to the Western Cape (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa), in acacia woodland and along drainage lines, rivers and streams. Today it is naturalized in many countries, including USA, but it is quite rare in Europe.

African Sumac is small to medium sized evergreen, dioecious tree grows up to 10 meters tall and 5 meters wide. It is usually a single-stemmed, low branching tree which has a dense, soft, round canopy. Bark surface dark grey to dark brown, rough, often irregularly fissured; twigs reddish brown, angular or slightly grooved, pendulous. The petiole 2–7 cm long, leaves are trifoliate (a compound leaf with three leaflets), possessing narrowly linear-lanceolate leaflets. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stems, dark green above and paler green below, margins are entire. Inflorescence a lateral or terminal panicle, to 11 cm long. Greenish yellow, sweetly scented flowers are produced from December until March. The male and female flowers occur on separate trees. Small fruits are up to 5 mm in diameter, round, slightly flattened and covered with a thin fleshy layer which is glossy and yellowish to red-brown when ripe. The fruits are produced from September until January. The sweetly scented flowers attract bees and other insects to them. The fruit is eaten by birds.

Searsia lancea, can adapted to slightly alkaline and very acid soils, with moderate tolerance to soil salinity, even can survive at poorly drained soil. Because the tree is drought, heat and frost resistant it does not require any special attention once it has established its root system. Water use is very low, it is adapted to full sun, and it tolerates high summer temperatures. It is hardy down to –10 ºC, although it can resprout from the base if the top is killed in colder degrees. African Sumac can be propagated easily from seed, cuttings or layers. It also travels by suckers. Cuttings can be taken using young growth at autumn. The tree can grow up to 80 cm a year.

Searsia lancea is hardy, frost resistant and evergreen, so it is ideal for establishing a protective canopy for frost sensitive and shade loving plants. While the canopy is very dense when young, it thins with age and may also lose a lot of leaves especially during hot summers. It is useful in providing natural soil stabilisation, thus reducing erosion. The fruits are edible and were once used as an important ingredient of mead or honey beer. The leaves of the tree provide valuable fodder for livestock, also may use to produce a brown dye. Aesthetically it is a graceful tree possessing a willow-like appearance due to its drooping habit, and this makes it suitable for use near to a water garden, a pool or river.

Use in Landscape: African Sumac is an excellent ornamental and shade tree for gardens, parks and pavements. The density of the plant makes it suitable for use as a screen or barrier against wind, noise, objectionable views or to provide privacy. Searsia lancea does not have an aggressive root system and can be used near paving and tarred surfaces as a street tree. It is quite popular on golf courses.