Rhus dentata

Rhus dentata
Rhus dentata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Rhus
Species: R. dentata
Binomial name
Rhus dentata
Thunb.

Rhus dentata, Nana Berry (English), Nanabessie (Afrikaans) is a medium sized, deciduous tree, reaching a height of about 5 metres and a spread of 4 metres. It occurs naturally in almost the whole of South Africa except the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. Its habitat varies from sea level to the highlands of the Drakensberg. It is frost-hardy and should be planted in full sun. The leaves are usually conspicuously toothed (hence the name dentata), though sometimes they may be only slightly toothed. The tree produces small, creamy-white flowers in masses, which turn into small, flattened drupes (5-6mm) which turn red, orange or brown when ripe. The drupes attract birds which feed on them. The foliage is eaten by the larvae of the Pepper Tree Moth Bombycomorpha bifascia.

Bombycomorpha bifascia feeding on Rhus dentata
Autumn colours of Rhus dentata

References


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