Olinia ventosa has pale grey bark that fissures into rough rectangular patches upon old stems as seen in the photo. The bark may also become red-brown and flaky, sometimes gnarled and fluted. Higher up the branches are smooth and pale grey, while young branchlets in the new growth are pinkish and four-angled (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; www.plantzafrica.com).