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 longispina commonly known as Spiny Currant or Spiny Rhus in English and Doringtaaibos in Afrikaans is a South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Provinces. It grows into a shrub or small tree of 3 meters to 5 meters tall. It has spiny branches and greyish-green leaves. During autumn it bears small flowers which are followed by brown fruits.