Erica labialis mature leaves

Some Erica labialis leaves on the young branches in picture have elongated a bit, slenderer than the many, short, thick ones also in view. On older stem parts, the internodes between leaf whorls are in some cases long enough for the leaves not to overlap. Most leaves bend inwards; some stay straight or show unusual kinks near their tips.

All the leaves have slits at the back where the rolled under margins nearly meet, some with white hairs showing there. More consistently present are the white hairs on the leaf margins, showing in the slits (Manning and Helme, 2024; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).