Kigelia africana leaf

The Kigelia africana tree sapling has notable leaflet margin serration, later to be lost. These marginal teeth are angular and irregular, sometimes pointy and yellowish.

Leaflet midribs are cream coloured, slightly greenish on the lower surfaces where they are prominent. Lateral veining is distinct but narrower than the midrib, both of which are recessed upon the upper surface while net-veining is obscure in the photo. Slight undulations are present in the leaflet blades that are hard and roughly textured.

There is always a terminal leaflet apart from the two to five pairs of lateral leaflets on the K. africana leaf. Leaflets become 3,5 cm to 17 cm long, 2,5 cm to 11 cm wide, the lowest pair smaller. The leaf petiole (stalk) is fairly long (up to 15 cm), while leaflet petiolules are very short, absent on the top pair but notably longer on the terminal one (1 cm to 4 cm).

New leaves may be coppery in colour for a brief period (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).