Gymnosporia polyacantha subsp. vaccinifolia old leaves

Drought conditions caused leaf loss from these Gymnosporia polyacantha subsp. vaccinifolia branches. The bark is grey and smooth on thinner stems, becoming slightly rougher with age, amid gnarled scars where leaves and possibly spines have been lost.

The slender spines, scattered along the stems, are initially dark red-brown, bleaching to a pale grey over time.

New tufts of bright green leaves can be seen growing among the old, blue-green leaves that survived the dry season (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).