Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica mature stem

An old, large stem of Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica may be straight or crooked and thick, the bark a paler colour here than seen on young trees. Some horizontal segmentation is visible, while some of the markedly curled-up flakes are scattered elsewhere. A smaller, second stem has branched off low on the photographed specimen. The elaborately uneven bark might appeal as free housing or temporary shelter to insects that way inclined.

The wood of the parsley tree is soft, although it is sometimes used to make musical bows for string and other instruments (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).