Mesembryanthemum splendens decussate leaves

On the youngest stems the cylindrical Mesembryanthemum splendens leaves curve up from the stems in spaced, opposite pairs, perpendicular to the previous pair in clean, elegant structures termed decussate.

Once axillary growth starts everywhere on the older stems, they appear busy from small leaflets, new branchlets or, of course, flowers in season.

The leaf-tips are bluntly pointed, the tip slightly off-centre, positioned towards the outside (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).