Erythrina afra new leaves

Fresh new Erythrina afra leaves sprouted in October are several shades paler and yellower than mature ones. There is some shine on the blades, their midribs strongly developed as are the main lateral veins ascending towards the margins.

The petioles are long and sturdy with vestiges of short dark hairs possibly present. The petiolules of individual leaflets are short. The leaf cluster in picture has grown on a short side-branch that had leaves during the previous year as well.

E. lysistemon leaflets and petioles can usually be differentiated by the prickles they bear (Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).