Eriocephalus africanus var. africanus leaves

The leaves of Eriocephalus africanus normally give the shrub its silvery grey appearance. The grey-green, finely hairy and needle-like leaves grow in tufts along the stems. The leaves exude a pungent smell when crushed.

This cultivated plant growing mainly in shade looks much greener than habitat specimens often having to cope with variably low rainfall and growing in full sun. The photo was taken in the Botanical Garden of the University of Stellenbosch.

E. africanus var. africanus has slightly succulent, spreading leaves and is a coastal plant of southern Namaqualand in the Western Cape at low elevations. Inland grows the more erect form of the plant, E. africanus var. paniculatus that also occurs in the Northern and Eastern Cape. It has thinner leaves that lack succulence (www.plantzafrica.com; www.toptropicals.com).