Agathosma betulina stem-tips

Stem-tip leaves of Agathosma betulina may be yellowish green, ascending strongly on the stems compared to the spreading older leaves lower down that have adopted the darker colouring of their mature stage. The fine marginal toothing and the gland dots are there from the start.

Young leaves have slightly concave upper surfaces, the margins positioned above the midrib. Later lengthwise curving down of the leaf removes this feature from old ones.

Soft upper stems are pinkish red and initially appear slightly angular in shape (Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).