Erica cerinthoides leaves

Erica cerinthoides leaves are densest at stem-tips where stem elongation will still space them. Inspection of the leaf arrangement on the stems divulges several features present o sometimes present: They are scattered, spiralled, imbricately overlapping, whorled in fours, fives or sixes, as well as neatly or nearly neatly stacked in vertical arrays. All these forms and options are partly present or sometimes present in the growth habit of patterned variety.

In picture the leaves ascend, angled close to the stems when young, and spreading with age lower down. Some E. cerinthoides plants have their leaves appressed to the stems. Sometimes velvety to bristly, the leaf margins are notably long-haired on this plant.

Leaf darkening sets in soon from yellow-green beginnings. In picture the yellowish leaf colouring lasts longest in the slit on the lower surface between the rolled under margins, and at the stem tips. Stem darkening from cream to brown also happens (Manning and Helme, 2024; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist).