A Thesium strictum upper stem is deep green, hairless and glossy before it becomes grey or brown and woody. Slight longitudinal channelling may be present on upper stems, resembling the margins of the appressed leaves. Smaller branches near the top may all bear small flower clusters at bloomtime.

Long, oblong leaves on lower stem parts that still bear leaves are closely pressed to the stem, but for their tips that lift and turn brown (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; iNaturalist).