Syncarpha paniculata erect branches

Syncarpha paniculata is sometimes called the witsewejaartjie (white everlasting) in Afrikaans. Several Syncarpha, Helichrysum and Edmondia species have multiple rows of papery white bracts around the disc florets.

The branched erect stems of S. paniculata, pale and hairy, have stalkless, narrowly lance-shaped leaves clustered near their tips. The leaves taper to acutely pointed tips that sometimes dry out, becoming dark. Leaf surfaces are white-felted from a dense covering of long hairs. Leaf dimensions are 1,5 cm long by 5 mm wide.

The lower branch parts on mature plants tend to be bare, pale and rough surfaced, while intermediate stem sections may retain the dry leaves for a time (Manning, 2007; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).