Kigelia africana spring leaves

The fresh Kigelia africana leaves in spring and in picture lead as early winners against their slow starter mates at other stem-tips.

They display several of the to be expected features of K. africana leaves: Yellow green shine on leaflet upper surfaces contrasted with a greyer matt on the lower surfaces, prominent veins below and sunken on top, rounded leaflet tips sometimes slightly pointed or with a hint of notching. The basal leaflet pair is smaller as far as can be seen. This is as expected. The fine marginal toothing usual on young leaflets is not discernible. The petiolules are short, absent on the uppermost pair while longer on the terminal leaflet. In biological data unexpected exceptions often prove rules. Or merit study.

This tree is usually leafless for only a short period annually (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).