Blepharis capensis young leaves

After rain the young leaves of Blepharis capensis are lush and dark green. The white midribs and margins contrast strongly against the dark blades that are smooth and leathery.

Marginal spines are sporadically present, mainly on the larger leaves; the margins rolled under. The spines are widely and unevenly spaced.

These leaves are said to serve as a remedy for toothache, but always be careful with putting foreign substances in the mouth, in spite of the distress that might make drastic measures attractive (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; JSTOR; https://kumbulanursery.co.za).