Curio acaulis leaves

Longitudinal lines along the leaf surfaces of this Curio acaulis plant are visible on both young and old stems. Tiny pointed, mucronate leaf tips are present, reddish brown in colour.

Some leaf bodies have marked constrictions, smoothly narrowed sections along their lengths, probably reflecting seasons of hardship at the times when they were grown.

The blackish lichen seen more on older stems spread gradually, not interfering with the plant’s survival, but possibly reducing photosynthesis in the parts where it is present (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).