Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica leaves

Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica, commonly known as parsley tree or in Afrikaans as wildepietersieliebos, is and interesting small tree found also in the Langkloof.

It characteristically bears among other things attractive peeling bark. The satin-smooth young stems soon start peeling off and turning copper-brown, while retained parts of durable bark flakes render the stems unusual, the tree thus easily identified.

The compound leaf has up to seven leaflets, three at the tip and lateral pairs lower down when there is a full house.

In summer there are very visible umbels of small yellow flowers above the leaves. In autumn the leaves turn red or yellow on the deciduous tree (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).