Oftia africana stem-tip

An Oftia africana stem-tip may be lush and vigorous when the rains have been good as this Jonkershoek plant confirms in midwinter when the photo was taken.

Pale, creamy yellow leaf veining is conspicuous on mature leaves, prominent on the lower surfaces. Toothed margins are present on all leaves. Leaf colour varies between yellow-green and bluish green, faint signs of shine also present on parts of them. The leaves are densely clustered at the stem-tip.

Such young growth is often browsed by game as the occasional small antelope may still do here; there is no livestock in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; http://pza.sanbi.org).