The genus Searsia was named after Paul B. Sears (1891-1990) who was head of the Yale School of Botany. The Anacardiaceae family is widespread in warmer parts of the world with about 111 species of Searsia occurring in southern Africa. Most of the species grown in southern Africa, belonging to the genus Rhus, have been placed in Searsia.

Searsia incisa, synonymously known as Rhus incisa and commonly known as Baardbessie in Afrikaans and Rub-Rub Berry or Rub-rub Currant in English, is a South African endemic deciduous shrub or small tree, found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. It grows to 4m tall with oak-like leaves and greenish-yellow flowers from winter to summer. These are followed by shaggy cream to pinkish-brown fruit.