Euclea crispa subsp. crispa leaves

These Euclea crispa subsp. crispa leaves are narrow and erect, showing vein lines against the light in typical guarri fashion. The common name of blue guarri does not fit equally well in all the regions where these trees grow. Narrower and yellow-green with none of the blue-grey blades of the same tree in the northern part of its distribution range, this leaf form certainly extends the appearance range of the subspecies.

The narrow-leaved form resembles E. lancea that is restricted to Namaqualand, which means no overlap in distribution ranges of the two trees. It also resembles E. linearis of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, but is according to some also found in parts of the Western Cape and particularly the southern Cape, not too far from the Kouga. E. linearis usually has still narrower and acutely pointed leaves, but they are recognised as resembling those of E. crispa subsp. crispa.

There may be a clear separation between the two, or something of a grey area, serving as a conversation piece when encountering an inbetween specimen (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).