Combretum hereroense leaves nearing the end

These end of season kierieklapper leaves, referred to by Carr as tardily deciduous, still have some shine on their worn, dark green surfaces. The leaf tips are neither notched nor rounded here as commonly occurs, but tapering. Some attenuating leaf tips are also occasionally seen.

Combretum hereroense leaves have entire margins; on this specimen they are wavy with some twist to their tips. Petioles are up to 5 mm long. Pale creamy lateral veins can be discerned, some curving inwards, away from the margins. The leaf midrib may be brown on the lower surface from tiny scales that occur along it. The dark spots seen here are probably fungal.

Leaf dimensions are typically 3 cm by 2 cm, although leaves of up to 7 cm by 4,5 cm may occur.

Kierieklapper leaves are browsed (Carr, 1988; Coates Palgrave, 2002).