Heliophila coronopifolia stems and leaves

The thin, thread-like leaves of Heliophila coronopifolia are smooth and pale purplish while the thicker stems are pale green.

This is not the plant shape for casting a substantial shadow on a sunny day. Its pale colouring reflects sunlight well enough to not get cooked in the heat, while those pale parts photosynthesise sufficiently for living well in their demanding environment (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005).