Brachylaena rotundata leaves

The leaves of Brachylaena rotundata are simple and spirally arranged on the stems, growing on short petioles of 2 mm to 7 mm long.

The leaf shape is elliptic to oblong, the tip tapering broadly, the base tapering or somewhat rounded. Leaf dimensions are 4 cm to 10 cm by 2,5 cm to 6 cm, the larger sizes often seen on coppicing.

The leaf surface is rigidly leathery, densely hairy or felted on both surfaces when young, almost hairless above when mature. The lower surface remains covered in grey, white or brownish felt among the veining that is prominent on this surface. Leaf colour is grey-green to dull dark-green above, whitish below. New leaves in spring may have a pinkish tint for a while. Pairs of lateral veins ascend to the margins, sometimes branching before they get there.

The margins are almost entire to roughly and irregularly toothed, especially in the upper parts and near the leaf tips; a few very small spines may occur on the teeth (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; The Tree Society of Southern Africa, 1974).