Oftia africana old stems

Old woody stems of Oftia africana are leafless, here trailing over rock. They are pale coloured, greyer than brown with dark spots where small branches had dropped off.

The green leaf colour is lost on parts sacrificed when the going gets tough as the plant in picture shows. Hard times are not unknown in the Koue Bokkeveld where it grows (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; http://pza.sanbi.org).