Colletia paradoxa

Botanic Garden

Colletia paradoxa

The deciduous shrub Colletia paradoxa from Southern Brazil and Uruguay bears small 6mm long leaves which are completely out of scale to its 3m mature height. From a distance it appears to have armoured flattened leaves, but on closer inspection these turn out to be stems. These green, flattened stems or ‘cladodes’ carry out the majority of food manufacture, whilst protecting the plant from herbivores with sharp terminal spines. Small almond-scented flowers appear from autumn to winter. An intriguing shrub both for its ability to defend itself and photosynthesise through its stems.

  • Photographer: Dave Newbury
  • Copyright: University of Bristol
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