Erica taxifolia stem-tip leaves

Lower stems are bare on Erica taxifolia plants, sustained by their stem-tip leaves.

The slightly bulging blades grow stalkless, angled up for the first millimetre before they curve abruptly into spreading stance. Tapering at the sometimes-reddish leaf-tips is quick, the margins narrowly extended by translucent, papery fringes.

New branches emerging at the top of the stem in early winter are yellow-green, tipped purplish red (Baker and Oliver, 1967; www.plantzafrica.com).