Schotia brachypetala young leaves

    Schotia brachypetala young leaves
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Francelle van Zyl

    A closer look at younger leaflets of Schotia brachypetala shows a very much alive, bright green colour on the sometimes slightly wavy and longish blades with entire margins. The creamy midribs are clear to see but not up to the leaflet tips. The ascending lateral veins are spaced and discernible on a few leaflets in picture. The leaflets also ascend to the leaf tips but being upside down here they literally descend on the hanging leaves. 

    The leaflet pair at each rachis tip reminds of the paripinnate structure of the compound leaves. The faint reddish sheen on some leaflets indicate that these leaves are still quite young (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).

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