Phylica humilis leaves

Olive-green Phylica humilis leaves spiral stalkless up the stems. The shiny, slug-like shapes show the strong down-curving feature of their margins from up close. The heart-shape of the leaf, curled back like this becomes bulky at the base, narrow at the tip, leaving only a narrow slit of the lower surface exposed. The leaf-tips curve up slightly like snouts testing a funny odour.

The brown stems have a covering of short whitish hairs (http://fernkloof.org.za).