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This can exist
in the form of a shrub with long shoots or in the form of a bush with falling
branches and can attain 5 m in height. The branches are smooth with a gray
coloured bark.
The leaves are helically arranged on young long shoots and on the short
lateral shoots these appear fasciculate. Juvenile leaves measuring 5 to 13 cm
by 1 to 2 cm have a lamina that is elliptical or oval, pointed or rounded,
slightly crenate and sometimes bordered by a red leaf margin or have red tinge
throughout. The petiole is also red in colour. Adult leaves have a lamina
measuring 6 to 45 cm in length by 2 to 7 cm in width. The leaf shape is highly
variable even though they are in the same shoot. In addition, a pink tinge is
also observes on the adult leaves.
The
bracts are small, fimbriated to lacerated or rather dentate. The peduncles are
usually rosy pink and as long as 3.5 cm. Flowers are white, the number of
sepals varying between 4 and 5, are somewhat circular or oval, measure 1.25 mm
in diameter and are pink or have a pink margin. Petals are circular to oval,
measure 2.5 by 2 mm and are finely dentate. The stamens are 1 to 1.25 mm in
length. A tough capsule is present, is approximately 1 cm in diameter, green
after dehiscence and upon maturation, these turn yellowish in colour. The
orange grains are ellipsoidal, roughly 3.5 by 2.5 mm and have a yellowish
aril. |
