Searsia chirindensis leaves

The leaves of Searsia chirindensis are trifoliolate, the leaflets ovate-lanceolate in shape. The leaf petioles are about 4 cm, sometimes up to 9 cm, the leaflet petiolules very short. The petiole often reddish, the petiolules usually cream as the midribs.

Leaflet tips taper to sharp points and protruding hair-like tips or mucros. The leaflet bases taper as well. The leaflet margins are entire in the picture and mildly undulating. They may also be slightly scalloped. The leaflets often fold in to some extent along their cream-coloured midribs. Midribs, lateral veins and net-veining show up translucent against the sunlight.

The hairless leaflet surfaces are dark green on both surfaces, while young leaves are tinged red. Leaflet dimensions are from 6 cm to 13 cm in length and 2,5 cm to 4 cm in width.

Redness of the fruit gave the tree its common name of red currant; the colour extending to young leaves and leaf petioles (Coates Palgrave, 2002).