Monsonia lavrani leaves and spines

The leaves of Monsonia lavrani are blue-green or sea-green, sometimes yellow-green, growing in pairs or solitary without stalks. The leaves are held more or less erectly among the spines, but are much shorter than the spines. Leaf shape is variable, often obovate with a rounded tip and often slightly folded in along the midrib.

In this photo an ample leaf covering can be seen on a stem in midwinter. The leaves are summer deciduous, leaving the stems bare for a long off-season of rest (iSpot; www.bihrmann.com).