Yellowwoods grow singly among other species of large trees where they are often the tallest trees with the thickest trunks.

Lemonwoods occur in tall evergreen forests where there is abundant moisture all year round, often in loosely scattered groups or in dense clusters.

It grows in a wide band in the north-east of South Africa. In KwaZulu-Natal it can be found from Durban northward along the coast.

Small-leaved Yellowwoods were originally called Outeniqua Geelhout by early foresters in the Cape, from 1711 onwards. The fact that they made superb sleepers for the railways and straight strong ship masts, as well as wonderful furniture, were central to their popularity. Thus hundreds of years of logging, as well as a vastly diminished forest habitat has left relatively few of these magnificent ancient trees to reach a natural end to their potential lifespan of thousands of years.
 

In KwaZulu-Natal this month we have four Rhus, Searsia species that each has a distinctive feature that helps to separate them from other Rhus’. Ribbed Kuni-rhus has central veins on the leaflets that are ridged on both surfaces and the lateral veins are dark, and more visible above than below; The leaflets of Nana Currant-rhus have unusually deeply indented edges (margins) thus the name dentate – toothed; Blue-fruit Currant-rhus obviously has fruit which mature to deep blue; and Drakensberg Karee-rhus is alone in South Africa in this genus in not always having three-leaflet leaves. They can be 5- or 7- leaflet, but still look quite 'Rhus-like'.

Three of the KwaZulu-Natal Rhus, Searsia species covered this month can have spines, especially when the trees are young. These are Red Currant-rhus, Thorny Karee-rhus, and Crowberry Currant-rhus. The fourth Rhus has leaves that are covered in a shiny resin, which becomes waxy and glossy, and is aptly named Waxy Currant-rhus.

Paper-bark Acacia normally grows in loose, widespread groups, often in open grassland.

Flat-crown Albizia grows on the edges of forests throughout KwaZulu-Natal as well as in the northern mountains of the Bushveld.

The Climbing Flat-bean is an eastern species occurring from the coast inland to the mountains.