Searsia glauca, sparse, notched leaves

The leaves of this Searsia glauca plant seen in the Botanical Garden of the University of Stellenbosch are darker green than usual with very little of the glossy appearance ascribed to them.

The leaflet tips are markedly notched. There is hardly any evidence of the hairy tip or mucro that sometimes prolongs the leaflet midrib beyond its margin. Some of the characteristic leaf-shape variability is present.

The sparse foliage in picture is caused by elongation from unsuccessful sun searching under tall trees that cannot be matched in height. Leaf colour is also affected by this (Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Coates Palgrave, 2002).