Diospyros ramulosa leaves

The smallish leaves of Diospyros ramulosa are mainly spirally arranged, crowded near stem-tips or variably spaced. They grow on short petioles or are sessile (stalkless).

The leaf-shape is elliptic to obovate, the tip blunt and the base tapering. The leaf margins are entire, sometimes slightly rolled under and fringed with hairs. The leaf often folds in along the midrib that is prominent below, the lateral veins faint. The leaf dimensions are 5 mm to 13 mm long by 2 mm to 5 mm wide.

The leaves are leathery, dark green to dull green and covered in silky hairs that are more prevalent on the lower surfaces where red glands are also sometimes visible. The shrub or small tree is evergreen.

D. austro-africana var. microphylla resembles this plant. A common name of D ramulosa, the Namaqua kritikom, links these two plants, kritikom also a name of the other one. D. ramulosa leaves lack the prominent net-veining of D. austro-africana var. microphylla leaves that tend to appear pitted on the lower surface.

The latter plant is also distinguished by calyx lobes that clasp the back of the fruit, as well as boat-shaped floral bracts (Mannheimer and Curtis, (Eds.), 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).