Ochna pretoriensis leaves

Ochna pretoriensis, the Magaliesrooihout, is a deciduous tree. The alternate, simple leaves grow on short, slender petioles of up to 2 mm long.

The leaf shape is obovate to narrowly so or oblong. The leaf tips taper broadly or are rounded, the bases taper. Leaf margins are toothed in an inconsistent way, the biggest teeth sometimes near the leaf centre. The hard, hairless blades fold in slightly along their midribs.

The leaf midribs are ridged on both surfaces and often arched, the veining visible on both surfaces. Much pale lateral veining ascends from the midribs, not very regular in its arrangement, while some net-veining is almost as clearly defined as the lateral veins. The upper leaf surfaces are dark green.  

Leaf dimensions are 1 cm to 4 cm long by 0,5 cm to 1,5 cm wide (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).