Erica curviflora leaves

The usually sparsely hairy leaves of Erica curviflora are dark green. They ascend and spread up the stems, allowing glimpses of the pale stems around which they grow in spaced whorls of four. The leaves may be pressed against the stems, although not here; sometimes also spreading or incurved and overlapping. Variable plant habits may confuse!

The leaf-shape is narrowly linear, linear-lanceolate or needle-like. Ericoid means the same shape, with margins being rolled under added, saying that Erica leaves look like Erica leaves. The term is clearly more useful referring to the similar leaves of plants from other genera.

As the stems become older and thicker, they darken to reddish brown and grey, losing their leaves (Manning and Helme, 2024; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).