Terminalia sericea leaves and bud spikes

Terminalia sericea leaves may show some green apart from their common blue-grey colouring.

The long leaves, more straight than wavy, may fold or curve in a little along their midribs. Deviations from the smooth and elegant appearance of the usually entire leaf margins are the holes inflicted by hungry insects and others.

Thin, beady spikes of green flower buds are scattered among the stem-tip leaf clusters, emerging from the leaf axils. These flowers are cream or pale yellow when they open, the spikes by then thicker cylinders tending to curve. The flowers attract insects that may take liberties with the leaves as well as raid the flowers (Pooley, 1993; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).