Schotia brachypetala discoloured leaflets

Although the Schotia brachypetala leaf part in picture has a sickly colour, growing in Hermanus far from the tree’s natural distribution, it shows leaflet shape and the grooving of the rachis connecting the leaf parts. The leaflets are here opposite, on some trees sub-opposite, also on leaves of the same tree.

There are very narrow, green wings visible between the nodes on the sides of the cream-coloured rachis. The leaflets have no petiolules, although they may be present in this species, only up to about 2 mm long.

The tree is evergreen in Hermanus, usually briefly deciduous in its natural habitat (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1993).