Searsia pterota leaves

The stiffly leathery and hairless leaves of Searsia pterota are crowded on small spur-branchlets. The leaves are three-foliolate on notably winged petioles that are up to 4 cm long, and without petiolules on the leaflets. The specific name, pterota, is derived from the Greek word pteron meaning wing, and the Greek suffix ‑otos meaning provided with or possessing, referring to the winged petioles.

The leaflet shape is elliptic to obovate with tapering base, rounded tip and entire margins. Leaf dimensions are from 1,5 cm to 4 cm long and from 0,5 cm to 2 cm wide. The dull grey-green blades, paler below, have creamy midribs and ascending lateral veins, more prominent on the upper surfaces. Young leaves may be yellow green, earlier even deep yellow or reddish (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Venter, 2012; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).