Muraltia spinosa leaves and stems

The leaves of Muraltia spinosa, alternate to sub-opposite, ascend stalkless from the longitudinally furrowed green upper stems. The coarse leaf surfaces are fleshy, round-tipped and dull-green with no hairs. Yellowish new growth is sprouting from the leaf axils in picture.

The stem-tip spines, giving M. spinosa its specific name, are out of sight here, while purplish colour change spreading upon the older stem is to be seen.