Anthocleista grandiflora stem tip leaves

The young stem tip leaves of Anthocleista grandiflora, seen here from the Boomslang in Kirstenbosch, show obtusely angled, pointed tips; leaf tips are often rounded on this tree. This new Kirstenbosch facility provides opportunities for some intimate inspections when tree climbing ability has long been lost.

Some of the rolled under leaf margins are faintly yellow. All are entire, although rare toothing, fine and irregularly spaced, is sometimes found on A. grandiflora leaves. The leaf midribs and lateral veins seem to bulge prominently on the lower leaf surfaces, but not on top.

There is some leaf damage that should be expected, the southeaster (wind) being such a prominent presence in the Cape. Still, this tree is looking good, very far from its heimat in the northeast of the country and the tropics beyond the border (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).