Berkheya fruticosa leafy stems

The white, velvety Berkheya fruticosa stems have long internodes between its alternate to spiralling leaves on negligibly short stalks. Apart from along the leaf margins, there also seem to be spines like stipules where leaf meets stem.

The plant isn’t called grey African thistle or vaaldissel (grey thistle) for nothing (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).