Eriocephalus purpureus leaves

The stalkless leaves of Eriocephalus purpureus are alternate on upper flowering stems, opposite on lower stems and densely clustered at young stem-tips.

They are ericoid, straight and narrow in shape, fleshy and rounded in cross-section to slightly keeled below, nearly flat on top and round-tipped. Shiny surface cells or tiny hairs are present on the green leaf surfaces in picture as well as on the reddish stems.

Clusters of new leaves grow from old leaf axils in or after the rainy season. The photo was taken in August after rain (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR).