Leucosidea sericea bark

Loose strips of bark typically flake off the rough Leucosidea sericea stems. As the pale grey, longitudinal pieces drop off, reddish brown under-bark is exposed, even on this still thin stem.

Branching at the base has occurred here as is typical, the overall shape of L. sericea often shrub-like. Angled, twisted branches might develop into big stems in a haphazard manner, depending on where surrounding bush leaves space for accessing some sunlight. Maybe the flaking upper bark continually dropping of in small pieces brought about the common name of ouhout (old wood).

This is the most common indigenous tree of Lesotho, thriving on high-altitude grassland (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).