Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum leaves

The semi-succulent leaves of Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum are opposite, sessile and minutely hairy.

The leaf shape is narrowly oval to inversely lance-shaped, tending to be wider near the tip than the base. The margins are sparsely toothed with pointed or rounded tips. Sinuatum is a Latin word meaning having a wavy or sinuous margin or with alternate rounded notches and lobes. The leaf colour is greyish green. Leaves become up to 4 cm long and usually less than 1 cm wide.

This plant is highly palatable to game and stock, not called skaapbos (sheep bush) for no reason. It is often found heavily cropped when not partly covered by hard branches of a bigger shrub, conveniently allowing it partial shielding from herbivore reach.

The plant may periodically become toxic when wilted, causing prussic acid poisoning in animals ingesting plant parts.

Abundance of these plants indicate good vegetation conditions (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Vahrmeijer, 1981; iNaturalist).