Solanum tomentosum young stem-tip

The developed leaves of this Solanum tomentosum shrub have just a little green colouring showing through the dense covering of white to pale yellow, woolly hair. The tiny new leaves at the stem tip in picture are yellow, bordering on orange from the density of newly grown hairs.

The leaf shape is ovate with entire, wavy margins that are slightly, shallowly lobed. The leaves have stout petioles also covered in hairs like the spiny stems. The leaf margins often curve in or are folded in along the prominent, yellowish midrib. Leaf curvature varies considerably.

A few straight lateral veins are visible, ascending towards the margins. The leaf midrib is said occasionally to have a few spines like the stems (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; www.kew.org).