Erythrophysa alata

Description

Erythrophysa alata is a very attractive shrub or small tree that reaches a height of between 3 and 4 m. The stocky secondary stems arise from a single main stem which, when mature, has a mottled silver-grey appearance in the sun and dark brown colour in the shade. The rather rough bark is prone to flaking in large and old specimens. The leaves are approximately 100 mm long, very attractive, dark green and shiny and clustered on short spur-branchlets, with four to seven pairs of opposite leaflets. The apex tapers at the base and the leaf margins are entire and somewhat wavy at times.