Many trees of the west coast region of South Africa manage shrub status only. This Phylica oleifolia growing at Naries in Namaqualand is one of them. Low rainfall and temperature extremes have much to do with this.

Branching at the base, the multiple stems in picture are fairly erect. Age will bring about a proliferation of branches that bestows a roundness to the shrub, a shape not unknown among people of advancing years either.

The plant in picture is fairly sparsely branched as well as leaved, the bush structure angular in kite-shape more than round (Coates Palgrave, 2002).