Euclea crispa subsp. crispa bark

The usually smooth bark of Euclea crispa subsp. crispa is known to crack more than fissure with age, although with thickness growth it amounts to about the same. The nature of stem roughness, like physical phenomena generally, can always be investigated more thoroughly and described more clearly.

The maturing, pale grey-brown stem in picture is not yet too old for bearing leaves directly, apart from the small twigs also present. Shallow, longitudinal fissuring is on display, as well as rough underbark.

Those involved in combatting veld fires value guarri branches in performing their task when better equipment isn’t available (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).