Genus: Osyris

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Eudicotyledons >  Core eudicots > Order: Santalales >  Family: Santalaceae

Distributed throughout Africa, the Mediterranean region and S. Asia, with 9 species of which 3 occur in southern Africa.

Osyris compressa (Cape Sumach) Pruimbas [Afrikaans] Occurs from the Western Cape through to tropical Africa.  Hemiparasitic shrub or small tree growing to a height of about 5 m. In the Cape, flowers from December to June. Fruit is a red to black drupe.