Ochna pretoriensis leaves

The alternate, simple leaves of the Magaliesrooihout, a deciduous tree, grow on short, slender petioles of up to 2 cm.

The leaf shape is obovate to narrowly so or oblong, the tip broadly tapering to rounded and the base tapering. Leaf dimensions are 1 cm to 4 cm by 0,5 cm to 1,5 cm. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green; the hard, hairless leaves folding in slightly along their midribs.

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

Leaf margins are toothed in an inconsistent way, the biggest teeth sometimes near the leaf centre (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).