Muraltia heisteria leaves

The simple, sessile leaves of Muraltia heisteria are scattered and fascicled along the stems, often with groups of smaller leaves sprouting from the axils. The leaf-shape is lanceolate to oblong, varying in width but always tapering to sharp, spiny tips that turn brown and offer a prickly reception.

An Afrikaans name for the plant, kastybos (chastise bush), warns of the pain these spines can inflict. Another way of saying the same is voëltjie-kan-nie-sit-nie (little-bird-cannot-sit), explaining the problem in a roundabout way in a delightful plant name. 

The upper leaf surfaces may be flat or channelled, the texture hard. The leaves are sometimes about straight, others curve down. The blades are dark green but range to light or yellowish green when young. The leaf margins may be smooth or hairy, the hairs often whitish (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Manning 2009; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).